New UC Santa Barbara Police Chief Takes Up Duties

A new chief of the UC Santa Barbara Police Department has taken up his duties this week.

Dustin Olson, formerly the Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was appointed to his UCSB post after a nationwide search. His appointment took effect Monday. He succeeds former Chief Bill Bean, who retired in June after 34 years of service to the UCSB Police Department, the last four years as chief.

In announcing the appointment, UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang said: "Mr. Olson has a strong commitment to working with our campus and community members to ensure a safe living, learning, and working environment for our students, staff, faculty, and visitors. As the Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he demonstrated effective leadership in meeting the needs of a diverse campus community. He is highly regarded for his collaborative, community-oriented approach to policing."

Olson is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of Science in crisis and emergency management. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and earned a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1989 to 1998 as an administrative and personnel chief and received numerous honors and medals for his service, including the National Defense Service Medal and Joint Military Service Member of the Year.

Olson had been with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Police Department for a total of 10 years, during which time he was twice honored as Police Officer of the Year.

In 2007 he received the Annual Award for Administrative Excellence from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. He has published several articles in law enforcement journals about community policing, sexual assault prevention programs, and campus emergency notification systems.

Olson said he was "truly honored" by his appointment as Chief of Police at UC Santa Barbara. "I appreciate the opportunity to serve the faculty, staff, and students of such a distinguished institution, and to collaborate with the broader community and its police agencies," he said. "I am excited about engaging in the tenets of community policing with the law enforcement professionals of the UCSB Police Department, which has a distinguished history and record of accomplishment, and I look forward to leading the department as we work to meet the current public safety needs of our community and prepare for the challenges of the future."

Associate Vice Chancellor Ron Cortez, who chaired the search advisory committee for the new chief, said more than 100 applicants from across the country had sought the post. "I am very excited that Mr. Olson was chosen," he said. "The search committee was particularly impressed by his experience, educational background, and his tremendous reputation for working with and bringing consensus among faculty, staff, and students, while at the same time maintaining the authority and reputation of the Police Department."

Chancellor Yang noted his appreciation for the work of the UCSB Police Department and its leadership. "On behalf of our campus, I would like to take this opportunity to again express our heartfelt appreciation to former Chief of Police Bill Bean for his 34 years of devoted leadership and service. We also thank Captain Mike Foster for so ably stepping in as Acting Chief of Police during the transition period."