SPC Launches its Own Police Department to Strengthen Campus Safety

St. Petersburg College has officially launched the St. Petersburg College Police Department (SPCPD), adding sworn law enforcement capabilities to its existing campus security operations and expanding the College’s ability to respond to and investigate incidents across its campuses.

SPC Police Chief Andrew MacPherson and Deputy Chief Tracy Smith recently took the oath of office, officially launching the new department. The department will add sworn officers in phases, with plans to continue growing over the next two years.

“Building the St. Petersburg College Police Department from the ground up has meant getting the fundamentals right, including policy, training, technology and partnerships with the agencies that have supported this community for years,” said MacPherson. “Every piece of that work comes back to one goal: making sure our students, faculty and staff feel safe, seen and supported.”

Expanding SPC’s public safety capabilities

The new police department will work alongside SPC’s existing campus security team, adding capabilities that security officers do not have. As a sworn law enforcement agency, SPCPD will have access to state and federal criminal justice information systems and its officers will be able to investigate crimes, make arrests and provide a broader law enforcement response when incidents occur on campus.

Having officers embedded within the College also allows SPCPD to build familiarity and relationships with the students, employees and communities it serves.

“Standing up our own police department means faster response times and officers who already know this campus and this community,” said MacPherson. “That’s what safety looks like at St. Petersburg College.”

The department’s approach will emphasize community-oriented policing, with officers focused on service, relationships and partnership in addition to their law enforcement responsibilities.

“SPC is continually advancing its commitment to student success by creating an environment where learning, safety and well-being thrive together,” said Michael DiBuono, SPC’s Public Safety Program Director. “Through enhanced access to public safety resources, proactive engagement and a visible presence across our campuses, the new SPC Police Department stands ready to protect, serve and strengthen the sense of confidence and community that defines the SPC experience.”

Building the department from the ground up

The launch follows extensive work to establish the policies, training, technology and infrastructure required for the new department. SPC worked closely with local law enforcement partners throughout the process, including agencies with experience serving college and university communities.

David Hendry, Regional Chief of Police for the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, was a guiding force for SPC along the way.

“Establishing a new police department is a significant investment and reflects St. Petersburg College’s commitment to the safety and security of its campuses,” said Hendry. “Faculty, staff and students will now have a dedicated police and security team focused on the public safety priorities of the campus community. SPC should be applauded for making campus public safety a priority.”

MacPherson credited those partnerships as an important part of establishing the department and preparing its officers to serve SPC.

“Creating a police department isn’t just about badges and patrol cars. It’s about building trust from day one,” said MacPherson. “We’ve spent this past year putting the infrastructure in place, from certified officers and strong agency partnerships to policies that reflect best practices in higher education law enforcement. I’m proud of how far our team has come and even more excited about what this means for the safety and security of everyone on our campuses.”

Students, faculty, staff and visitors will begin seeing SPCPD patrol vehicles and uniformed officers working alongside Campus Security. Current emergency procedures, reporting processes and methods for contacting SPC Public Safety will remain unchanged for now.

Over the coming months, SPC will continue hiring officers and expanding the department’s services as it builds toward full implementation.

A career dedicated to campus public safety

For MacPherson, becoming SPC’s first police chief is the latest chapter in a career spent building and strengthening public safety operations at colleges and universities across the country. He currently serves in a dual role as Chief of Police and Associate Vice President of Safety, Security and Emergency Management, overseeing SPC’s broader approach to campus safety while leading the development of its new police department.

MacPherson joined SPC in April 2024 after serving as Associate Vice President of Public Safety at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, where he led efforts to revitalize the college’s public safety department. His higher education public safety career has also included leadership roles at Southern Oregon University and Adams State University, where he served as Chief of Police and Director of Emergency Management.

His career began at Grayson County College in Texas, where he spent more than 13 years progressing from a police officer to Chief of Police as well as Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management. Along the way, his responsibilities grew from patrol and criminal investigations to department operations, emergency preparedness, strategic planning, policy development and community policing.

That experience has helped shape MacPherson’s approach at SPC as he builds a department designed specifically around the needs of a college community.