Ohio State's first female police chief to retire this month

Watch previous coverage of Spears-McNatt assuming the role in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University's Chief of Police announced she is leaving this month after 30 years of service.

Chief Kimberly Spears-McNatt announced her retirement from Monday, with her last day set for Aug. 26. OSUPD said she will be joining Clemson University as associate vice president of public safety.

An interim chief will be named before she leaves, OSUPD said. A timeline to find a permanent replacement has not been set.

“This is a unique opportunity for me to retire from my current role, while also taking on a new challenge that aligns with my career goals,” Spears-McNatt said. “I will miss Ohio State and all my fellow Buckeyes, but I am also excited to take on this new challenge.” 

When Spears-McNatt assumed the role at the start of 2019, she became OSUPD's first female police chief. In her three decades with the force, she has received multiple honors, including a Medal of Valor and a Commendation Award. According to OSUPD, she also led the department in a number of safety initiatives that led to an overall decrease in major crimes on and off campus.

She graduated from Ohio State in 1994, the same year she first joined the force. Since then, she has hired over half the current officers and appointed or promoted over two thirds of current police supervisors, OSUPD said.

According Clemson University, Spears-McNatt will lead a search for Clemson's next university chief of police after her arrival this fall.