(From left to right) Kent City Manager Dave Ruller, Kent
State University President Lester A. Lefton, Kent City
Police Officer John Romanoski and Kent State Senior Vice
President for Finance and Administration Gregg Floyd
are surrounded by city and university safety forces
during the celebration of a successful partnership.

Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton and Kent City Manager Dave Ruller made a special presentation to representatives from the city and university safety forces on Tuesday, April 29, at the Kent City Fire Department. Following the brief presentation, specially designed T-shirts were distributed to all members of the university and city safety forces. The presentation of the T-shirts recognized the creation of a joint police patrol district in the area between the west edge of the Kent Campus and the City of Kent.

Historically, this area was under the exclusive protection of the city police department. In September 2012, the Kent State Board of Trustees amended its mutual aid agreement with the city to create a shared primary responsibility for providing police services in this area. This collaboration was formed in anticipation of the extension of the Lefton Esplanade to the edge of the city, and the developing partnerships with the City of Kent. Since that time, the respective safety forces have had full authority to enforce state laws and city ordinances in the designated area.

The respective chiefs from the city fire and police departments, Kent State Police Services and the university’s Fire Prevention coordinator were in attendance, along with representatives from each department.

For more information about Kent State's Department of Public Safety, visit www.kent.edu/publicsafety.

For more information about the city of Kent’s Public Safety Department, visit www.kentohio.org/dep/public_safety.asp.