Georgia State has hired an Atlanta Police Department deputy chief to run its campus police operations, months after the former chief was removed following a double shooting and a handful of robberies on campus.
Joseph P. Spillane, APD’s deputy chief for the strategy and special projects division, will begin Nov. 28, university officials said.
“Joe Spillane’s vast experience in law enforcement makes him the ideal chief to head Georgia State’s police department,” Georgia State President Mark Becker said in a release. “I know he will use the working relationships he has developed over his career to build and strengthen collaboration between Atlanta police and our department, a partnership that is fundamental to our deep commitment to campus safety.”
Former Chief Connie Sampson, who has been at Georgia State about 20 years, was removed from the role in March following a double shooting on campus involving a Georgia State student in a parking lot in a suspected drug deal. Deputy Chief Carlton Mullis became interim chief after the demotion. He'd already been the face of the department, which includes about 70 officers for its downtown campus. When the university hosted a campus safety forum earlier this year following a series of armed robberies in the school's library, Mullis was the public safety representative alongside Becker at the meeting. Mullis was also providing media updates on the double shooting.
Sampson, who lead the department as associate vice president for university police and building services, now just oversees building services.
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