Andy Stephenson assumes operations captain role at IUPD Bloomington
Andy Stephenson, a Bloomington native, IU alum and veteran IU Police Department officer, has been promoted to operations captain of the IUPD Bloomington division.
Capt. Andy Stephenson
“This is a challenge and an opportunity that I have been preparing for for many years,” Stephenson said. “I look forward to working with a fantastic group of employees. The campus community is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional staff of security and law enforcement officers, dispatchers and clerical personnel who work tirelessly to keep us safe.”
As captain, Stephenson will oversee the operations division, which includes the detective and daily patrol units. He will continue assisting with the planning of major campus events, which is where many on the IU Bloomington campus have gotten to know Stephenson, and he will also serve as the IUPD Bloomington division’s federal Clery Act coordinator, working with other supervisors and officials.
Some of his goals include increased community engagement and a more proactive approach to policing. While officers’ compassion and professionalism are important for solid policing, Stephenson said all members of the campus community need to work together to “both solve and prevent safety issues on our campus.”
Stephenson was promoted this month after serving 18 years full-time for IUPD-Bloomington.
“Qualities that made Andy stand out as a great candidate included his calm, intellectual demeanor, maturity, and his answers on how he would resolve challenges and issues he might face in the new position,” said Doug Johnson, deputy chief of IUPD Bloomington. “Above all, the committee was impressed with Andy’s professionalism, which ultimately landed him the promotion.”
Originally from Bloomington, Stephenson graduated from Bloomington North High School and played football during college.
“When the NFL didn’t come knocking on my door, I returned to IU to finish my undergraduate degree,” he said. “I became involved in the IUPD cadet program.”
He graduated first in his class from the IU Police Academy in 1996 and earned his master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University. After joining IUPD Bloomington full time in 1997, Stephenson was promoted to lieutenant in 2010 and attended the FBI National Academy in 2015. He never doubted his career choice.
“I was always interested in a career in law enforcement,” Stephenson said. “There was nothing else I considered.”
The Indiana University Police Department is part of Public Safety and Institutional Assurance at IU, which falls under the Office of the Executive Vice President for University Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for IT and CIO.
Tags: Andy Stephenson, Bloomington, Engagement, IUPD
