North Columbus News

After three decades of dedicated service to Ohio State, Chief Kimberly Spears-McNatt will retire from The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) and has accepted a new position as associate vice president of public safety at Clemson University in South Carolina.

Spears-McNatt’s last day in office with Ohio State will be Aug. 26. An interim police chief will be named before her departure.

Spears-McNatt is a Buckeye for life, having graduated from the university and joining OSUPD in 1994.

“This is a unique opportunity for me to retire from my current role, while also taking on a new challenge that aligns with my career goals,” Spears-McNatt said. “I will miss Ohio State and all my fellow Buckeyes, but I am also excited to take on this new challenge.”

Spears-McNatt became OSUPD’s first female chief in 2018 after working her way up through the ranks over the past 30 years. During her time with OSUPD, she received several honors, including a Commendation Award and a Medal of Valor. In just six years as chief, Spears-McNatt has greatly increased the diversity of the division and has shaped the organizational culture. She hired more than half of the officers currently employed by OSUPD and has appointed or promoted more than two-thirds of the current police supervisors, setting the police division up for success well into the future.

Spears-McNatt led the police division in accomplishing important initiatives that have contributed to the overall safety of our Buckeye community. This includes integrating safety enhancements that led to an overall significant decrease in major crimes both on and off campus.