For the second time in four years, Lieutenant Robert Heighes has been named interim Chief of Police to Eastern Michigan University’s Department of Public Safety.
On Aug. 18, President Susan Martin appointed Heighes to take the place of former Police Chief Greg O’Dell until a search for a permanent replacement is initiated this fall.
The work load has been an adjustment, but the DPS veteran of 28 years felt prepared to take on the responsibility.
“I can no longer be two or three places at once because this position takes a lot more dedication,” said Heighes, a Pinckney resident. “Since I’ve been appointed, I’ve been here everyday…But I feel comfortable and happy doing it. DPS has a wonderful relationship with the students and my main goal is to keep them safe.”
He filled in for Cindy Hall, who retired in July 2007 until O’Dell was hired during January 2008. O’Dell has since moved on to the University of Michigan to serve as the university’s Police Chief and Executive Director for the Department of Safety. Although this is the second time he has asked to take the job on a limb, Heighes has been gracious of the former chief’s undertakings and believes the transition has been
smooth.
“The university has accomplished a lot of things under Chief O’Dell, and I want to continue to keep that level of service that has been set for the last 3 ½ years,” Heighes said.
When he was working as the university’s interim director of public safety in 2007, the biggest issue he tackled was safety.
“One of the biggest things for us is making sure our students are safe and our campus is safe and the staff is safe as well,” he told the Detroit Free Press that year.
With his help, the university implemented 16 original strategies for improving safety and security in the wake of the Laura Dickinson case. Part of the approach included biweekly reports on campus crime that were emailed to students, faculty and staff. They were in a review of the emergency response plan and a security audit of the campus. These tactics have been continually improved since then.
Heighes is focusing on the start of school.
“We’re trying to reach out to freshmen, student affairs and students in general during the move-in process by being available as much as possible,” Heighes said.
In 1995, he earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration at EMU. Before that, he attended Michigan Technological University, where he earned an associate’s degree and later completed programs in field training and firearms instructing.
His journey at Eastern began when he was hired in 1984 as a campus officer. He was promoted several times to sergeant, then lieutenant and always welcomed the opportunity for progress.
“As you go through the ranks, gain experience and meet more people, you think, ‘Boy, I could go even further than I am now,’ ” Heighes said.
Heighes said his goal is to apply for the permanent position of Chief of Police after he continues to train and prepare but isn’t getting too ahead of himself.
“We’ll see where the chips fall and how things go, but for now, my goal is to keep the students safe,” Heighes said. “If someone else applies and gets it, I’ll support them just like the campus has
wonderfully supported me throughout this experience. Time will tell.”
The Eastern Michigan University Police Department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to secure the campus community. The department is located at 1200 Oakwood St.
