NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt University Police Department has announced the following promotions and staff changes effective July 1.
Capt. Linda Jennings will command the uniformed patrol division for the university’s campus and Capt. Pat Cunningham will oversee the uniformed patrol division for the university’s medical center. Previously Cunningham commanded both patrols.
Cathy Ryan, a 19-year veteran and a lieutenant with the force, has been promoted to the rank of captain and will oversee the department’s Support Services Division.
Sgt. Bob Pasinger has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant and will continue to work with the medical center’s uniformed patrol division. Pasinger has more than 15 years of service with the department.
Vivienne Irizarry, Randy Hunter and Roger Tidwell have been promoted from master police officer, a position responsible for training within the department, to the rank of sergeant. Irizarry has more than 22 years of service with the department. Hunter and Tidwell have 17 and 19 years of service respectively.
Other changes in the department include Sgt. Nola Brown’s taking on a new role as advocate for victims of domestic and sexual assaults. Previously, the department provided victim advocacy services on an as needed basis, but did not have someone dedicated to this role. Brown has received specialized training and will serve as a liaison between the department and the university’s Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center. Brown will assist the Women’s Center with its campus safety programming. Previously, Brown was a supervisor with the medical center’s uniformed patrol division.
John Newman and Davis Strange have had their titles reclassified from manager and director, administrative titles within the department, to the rank of lieutenant. Cindy Strange joins the department as a detective within the Criminal Investigations Division and Officers Donald Dennis and Dawn Eades take over the duties of the Greek Row patrol, which works with the university’s fraternities and sororities.
The university’s police department has 85 police officers and 31 civilian staff members.
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Media Contact: Princine Lewis, 615-322-NEWS
princine.l.lewis@vanderbilt.edu