UPD Deputy Chief completes training for campus law enforcement executives

University Police Department (UPD) Deputy Chief Mary Ritayik successfully completed a series of trainings and workshops at an annual Executive Development Institute hosted by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) in Tempe, Ariz.

Ritayik, a former investigator with the UPD who advanced to the role of Deputy Chief, was an ideal fit for this opportunity, which focuses on training current and newly appointed campus public safety executives on law enforcement leadership and management topics that apply specifically to a campus environment.

“I’ve been to conferences for general law enforcement, and while those are great, in the particular niche of university policing we have our own set of conditions that make us a little different from municipal departments,” Ritayik said. “The IACLEA brings together a diverse group from all different types and sizes of universities. One of the takeaways is that as campus law enforcers, we’re all in the same boat – we see the same types of problems and trends popping up, regardless of the differences at each individual campus.”

The Institute’s focus on serving the fairly narrow cross-section of law enforcement executives on college campuses allows not only for the treatment of issues common to that environment, but also for consideration of managerial best practices, Ritayik said.

“Some of the workshops were very reflective, helping us to identify personal attributes and how these can be channeled positively in working with others. They stressed the importance of recognizing differences between colleagues, and figuring out the best way to motivate and relate to them as individuals. When everyone brings a different perspective to the table, that’s a good thing, because it allows the department as a whole to think outside the box to solve problems.”

More information about the New Paltz University Police Department and about IACLEA is available online.