University News
OPS Director Interviews Set
April 19, 2021
MACOMB, IL – Two candidates for the Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety (OPS) director position are set for interviews (virtual and in person) Monday, April 26 and Tuesday, April 27.
Candidates include Derek Watts, interim director of the Office of Public Safety, (Monday, April 26) and Michael Parkinson, emergency preparedness coordinator and Clery compliance officer at Saint Louis University (Tuesday, April 27).
Open sessions will be held via Zoom with each candidate from 10:50-11:30 a.m. April 26 (bit.ly/WattsOpenSession) and April 27 (bit.ly/ParkinsonOpenSession). Individuals interested in participating in the open sessions must register in advance.
Watts has served as the OPS interim director since March 2019. He joined OPS in 1998 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to corporal in 2006 and to sergeant in 2009. Watts was promoted to lieutenant in 2018. He started his law enforcement career with the Bushnell Police Department in 1996. Before joining the Office of Public Safety, Watts worked as a police officer for the Morton Police Department.
Watts earned his master's and bachelor's degrees in law enforcement and justice administration from WIU.
Parkinson has served as the emergency preparedness coordinator and Clery compliance officer at Saint Louis University since 2016. He has also served as a consultant with D. Stafford & Associates since 2014. Previously, he was the director of public safety at Maryville University in St. Louis from 2002-2016. He started his law enforcement career in the Galesburg Police Department in 1992. Parkinson has also served as a police officer for the City of Knoxville (IL) and as the director of campus safety and security at Knox College (1996-2002).
Parkinson earned his master's of law enforcement and justice administration from WIU and his bachelor's degree in sociology from Knox College.
The director of public safety serves as the chief law enforcement officer for the campus. The director provides leadership and oversight for ensuring a safe and secure environment and develops effective working relationships with individuals and organizations both on- and off-campus. Reporting directly to the vice president for administrative services, the OPS director provides senior level administrative oversight and responsibility for the administrative and operational functions of public safety, security and parking services.
Full resumes and itineraries are available at wiu.edu/employment.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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