Clemson University police chief to retire after 6 years on campus (2024)

CLEMSON — After retiring once from the Charleston police force, Clemson University Police Department Chief Greg Mullen has decided it’s time to do so again and will leave his post on campus.

Mullen, who also serves as the vice president for public safety, joined CUPD in 2018, meaning half his time spent leading the department was guiding and enforcing the university’s COVID-19 response.

Clemson will use a search firm and committee to conduct a national search for the associate vice president for public safety role. That person will then lead a national search to find the next police chief.

The retirement date was not announced, though a spokesman said they anticipate late summer after a period of transition.

“Chief Mullen has always had a clear vision and mission — to protect and serve,” Clemson University President Jim Clements said. “He is an incredible leader in our community, and through his dedication and commitment, Clemson University continues to be recognized on a national level for our campus safety and security.”

His tenure brought safety additions to home football games, where more than 80,000 fans flock to campus to watch the Tigers play in Memorial Stadium. Mullen partnered with athletic officials and others to establish secure perimeters around the stadium and add metal detectors at all gates, according to a news release.

Mullen’s teams built a surveillance system that now includes more than 1,500 cameras providing over 4,000 views of campus activities. He saw the addition of access control systems to most buildings on campus and, last year, introduced lockdown devices for classrooms that could alert first responders to potential violent incidents.

“Chief Mullen has taken the safety and well-being of Clemson’s students, faculty and staff to an entirely new level during his tenure these past six years,” said Tony Wager, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Out of all the many images of Greg’s leadership over his time at Clemson, one is fixed in my mind. That singular image is Chief Mullen standing day after day, leading in his calming way, the university’s coordinated response that was critical to helping the university provide a coordinated, positive response to COVID-19.”

Prior to his time as chief of the Charleston Police Department, Millen served in the Virginia Police Department and as a reserve and active mmber of the U.S. Air Force.