Police Chief Anita Allen Talks Safety, Trust, and Student-Centered Policing (4252 hits)
As Police Chief Anita Allen prepared for her first day at FVSU, she sat down with media studies major Randall Barnes to discuss safety, trust, mentoring, customer service, and student-centered policing. She highlights the importance of training, transparency, being responsive to student concerns, and involving them proactively in safety. Active engagement, she says, is the key.
As chief, Allen supervises the university’s police department, including security planning, criminal investigation, legal compliance, surveillance and data management, safety training, and community engagement. Allen’s most recent experience includes service as a captain in the Albany State University Police Department.
Allen’s tenure at ASU included roles as interim chief, s*xual assault investigator, internal affairs investigator, training director, dispatcher supervisor, and public information officer. She led the collection of evidence, the execution of arrest and search warrants, policy development, productivity assessment, leadership education, budgeting, and promotional material development. She was also a highly visible spokesperson for the department, and oversaw coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
“I hope to lead, develop, build, and create positive change at Fort Valley State University,” said Allen. “My mission is to help students find purpose and be their greatest selves.”
Prior to her work at ASU, Allen served as a lieutenant, criminal investigator, and housing corporal in the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office. She was also the executive assistant to the district health director for the Georgia Department of Public Health. Allen earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina College of Theology and holds multiple certifications from the Georgia Public Training Center. She has served on numerous civic and non-profit boards and committees.
