Purdue News
Purdue NewsKepner will step down Oct. 24 to cap a 34-year Purdue career, including more than 30 years as the first director of Purdue Safety and Security.
"Under Grant's direction, our personnel have set high standards for training and professionalism in serving the Purdue community," said Wayne W. Kjonaas, vice president for physical facilities. "He should be proud of the proactive role he has played. We have big shoes to fill."
In the past few years, Kepner also has assumed additional duties as Purdue police chief. Kjonaas said one of the new director's first tasks will be to hire a new chief. He anticipates that a new director will be in place by Kepner's retirement date.
"We took advantage of Grant's background and experience in asking him to serve as police chief as that department reorganized and made a major move to new headquarters," Kjonaas said. "The new director will focus on strategic planning and overall administration of Purdue Safety and Security, while a new chief will build on the solid foundation Grant has put in place."
In addition to the police department, Purdue Safety and Security encompasses such areas as the Purdue Fire Department, Fire Protection and Special Services, Fire and Safety Equipment Service, and Parking Facilities.
Kepner came to Purdue as a fire-protection engineer in 1963 and became director of the reorganized Safety and Security area in 1965. During his tenure, a full-service fire department was established, and the police department took on responsibilities for outreach and service to the campus community, in addition to law enforcement.
The West Lafayette campus today has a nationally imitated emergency telephone system, and all segments of the campus community can play a role in safety and security issues through the Campus Safety Task Force, Student Security Patrol and Parking and Traffic Committee.
When he began his tenure as director, Kepner said, student enrollment was about 18,000, about half of what it is today. Bicycle use was negligible on campus, and drug abuse was not a significant factor in law enforcement. The first campus parking garage was just being built. Police patrol cars did not have two-way radios, and police officers were by state statute considered sheriff's deputies rather than duly sworn officers of a separate university police department.
"We have come a long way in training, technology and outreach to make sure that everyone
on the West Lafayette campus has a better environment in which to work and learn,"
Kepner said.
CONTACTS: Kepner, (765) 494-8221; Kjonaas, (765) 494-8000.
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
