J Carson appointed Deputy Chief of University Police

The Division of Student Affairs has announced that J Carson, who has served the SUNY New Paltz University Police Department (UPD) since 2011, has been appointed Deputy Chief of UPD, assuming the role that was previously held by current UPD Chief Ryan Williams prior to his promotion in March 2024.

Carson began with the New Paltz UPD as a Patrol Officer and in 2016 was appointed Investigator, supervising criminal investigations and trauma-informed interviews. In this role she has worked to cultivate and maintain relationships with students, faculty and staff, enabling her to work within the community to help develop and implement programs for the promotion of a safe and inclusive campus environment.

Carson has also supported a number of key administrative functions in UPD including compiling data for various mandatory reporting and assessment functions including the Annual Security report. In this work she has shown a strong commitment to transparency, respect and dignity as foundational components of effective policing.

In 2017 Carson volunteered to serve as the Department’s accreditation manager, taking the lead on a complex, collaborative task that helped the New Paltz UPD secure New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services accreditation in 2018, and reaccreditation in 2023.

Beyond these important contributions, Carson has consistently shown a willingness to serve the broader community. She frequently acts as UPD liaison to campus partners like the Title IX Coordinator, Telecommunications, Residence Life and the Office of Student Conduct, as well as outside collaborators like the Ulster County Detectives Association, Hudson Valley Field Intelligence group, and numerous law enforcement agencies, district attorneys’ offices, courts and crime analysis centers.

Over the years, Carson’s service to SUNY New Paltz has been honored with the Presidential Recognition Award and multiple SUNY Police Chief’s Association awards, among other accolades.

Prior to joining the New Paltz UPD, Carson held roles as an officer at Downstate Medical Center and the New York City Parks Department. She holds a degree in security management from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system.