The Ohio University Police Department promoted Tim Ryan to captain following the retirement of his predecessor, George Harlow, in late July. Ryan’s position was effective Aug. 6 and made him second-in-command of the university’s police force.
According to Chief of Police Andrew D. Powers, Captain Ryan brings 20 years of experience at OUPD to his new position, including service as a patrol officer, field training officer, member of the SWAT team, detective, lieutenant and staff lieutenant.
During Ryan’s time with OUPD, he led the department’s implementation of a new CAD/RMS system, upgraded the communications center, coordinated the creation of a virtualized communications center with the County 911 and implemented the body-worn camera program. He currently oversees OUPD’s transition to new portable radios and served briefly as Acting Chief of Police, according to a University Communications and Marketing press release.
According to Ryan, the opportunity to serve as captain was just another way of building better relationships between the department and the community and a chance to learn more about and advance in his policing career.
“I think (the captain role) is more community-facing than the lieutenant role was, which I really enjoy,” Ryan said. “The lieutenant role is a little bit more internal facing, you know, investigations, OUPD process, supervising those areas. The captain role is definitely more community-facing, with meetings and partnerships outside of OUPD.”
As lieutenant, Ryan volunteered as a community engagement officer, a division that now reports to his position as captain, and said his experience and leadership style make keeping the university community safe a collaborative effort.
“My diplomacy is valuable,” Ryan said. “Working with others across campus, and genuinely being interested in feedback, being the type of person that wants to listen and hear, and also just being a longtime community member now and having all the way back to my student days and RA days, someone who's deeply invested in the community that wants the best for OU (is valuable).”
According to Ryan, the community-building aspect of his new position is what excites him the most.
“OU is a special place,” Ryan said. “It's an inclusive environment where everyone is working toward the same goal. We all want the same thing, and I think that's unique. Not every community has so many people working toward a better tomorrow and a great community for everyone, and I love that.”
This enthusiasm for public service and the community made Powers optimistic about Ryan’s ability to fulfill the captain role, Powers said in an email.
“He has a well-earned reputation for being collaborative, building strong relationships and leading with integrity and compassion,” Powers wrote. “I am looking forward to Captain Ryan taking on a bigger role in shaping the department’s future by applying his passion and energy to the areas he is now tasked with overseeing.”
According to the UCM press release, Ryan’s new position will, “oversee areas such as policy and procedure, public information, compliance (Ohio Collaborative, Clery Act, etc.), internal affairs, community relations, criminal investigations and the recruitment and hiring process.”
Powers added in his email that Ryan’s personality also makes him the ideal officer for attending public meetings and engaging with the community through events like Coffee With A Cop.
“While I don’t see any obvious areas in need of improvement, I am confident that Captain Ryan’s attention to detail will help us identify things we are currently doing well but could be doing better,” Powers wrote.
