Kennesaw State Gets New Police Chief

KENNESAW, GA — Edward Stephens, a 26-year veteran of Kennesaw State’s Department of Public Safety, has been named police chief at the university.

With the title, Stephens also becomes KSU's assistant vice president for public safety. Both roles are effective immediately, the university announced Wednesday.

As police chief, Stephens will be in charge of more than 100 employees, including sworn officers, security officers and administrative personnel.

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"Along with having two-and-a-half decades of law enforcement experience, Chief Stephens has a great rapport with KSU faculty, staff and students and has built strong partnerships on campus as well as with local police departments in Cobb County, Marietta and Kennesaw," said Ken Harmon, Kennesaw State’s interim president. "His career reflects a deep commitment to proactive leadership and community-oriented policing."

Stephens has served as KSU’s acting police chief since August. He joined the Kennesaw State Police
Department in 1992 as an officer and advanced through the ranks to become the principal criminal
investigator in 2000, Professional Standards Division commander in 2011 and deputy police chief in
2014.

Stephens also is an adjunct instructor in KSU’s Department of First-Year and Transition Studies. A Kennesaw State alumnus, Stephens received his business management degree in 1994, and he holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University.

"Having devoted my career to Kennesaw State Public Safety, and being a KSU graduate, there is nowhere I’d rather be than in this role," Stephens said in a news release. "I am committed to the safety and well-being of
our students and our entire campus community."

Photo courtesy Kennesaw State University