Top row from left: Deputy Chief Emily Simerly, Sergeant Lindsey Miller Gardner, Sergeant Angela O’Neal, Sergeant Ashley Stonerock. Bottom row from left: Diana Collinsworth, Anastasia Morrisey, Ashley Ogle, Krista Wood.
Today is National Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote.
We want to take the opportunity to recognize the women leaders of the UT Police Department for their dedication and service to UTPD and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. From commissioned officers to dispatchers and administration staff, the contributions of these supervisors are integral to the growth and continued success of the department.
Commissioned Supervisors:
Deputy Chief Emily Simerly oversees UTPD’s administrative division, which is comprised of 36 staff members, including nine supervisors. The division consists of the Investigative Unit, Evidence, Training, Accreditation, Fleet Management, Payroll and Budget, Technology Management, the Community Relations Unit, Police Dispatch, Records, and the Strategic Initiatives Unit. She is responsible for department recruitment.
Sergeant Lindsey Miller Gardner oversees the Community Relations Unit, which is responsible for the creation and delivery of numerous educational programs to the campus community. The unit consists of three officers and a K9 who present programs in residence halls, classrooms, and during orientations.
Sergeant Angela O’Neal supervises traffic control and officers assigned to traffic posts during special events. She is responsible for the interviewing and hiring of civilian personnel for UTPD’s Campus Protection Specialist Program. She provides supervision for day and evening patrol squads as needed.
Sergeant Ashley Stonerock is a general departmental instructor and coordinates the 80-plus hours of training for all commissioned employees of the department. She oversees the onboarding process for new officers and ensures their successful transition to the UTPD family.
Civilian Supervisors:
Business Manager Diana Collinsworth oversees payroll and the budget for more than 100 full-time UTPD employees, and more than 200 part-time employees during special events. She provides financial oversight for the UT Office of Emergency Management and UT Public Safety.
Communications Coordinator Anastasia Morrisey manages UTPD’s 13-member Police Dispatch unit. She holds an independent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license for the department’s 700 MHz band radio system. She monitors, programs and inventories equipment to ensure proper operation and maintenance. She approves and revises policy and procedure for police dispatch staff. Morrisey is the department’s terminal agency coordinator for the National Crime Information Center.
Communications Supervisor Ashley Ogle supervises the police dispatch staff’s day to day activities and provides routine guidance on policy and procedure. She oversees training of newly hired dispatchers and formulates continuing education materials for all communications staff. She is the department’s alternative terminal agency coordinator and maintains certificates, and facilitates access and operation of the National Incident Crime Information Center.
Central Alarm Manager Krista Wood works in the Office of Electronic Security. She is responsible, in coordination with UT police dispatch, for managing and maintaining access control for the university. She works with all UT educational departments in conjunction with the UT Office of Information Technology and Facilities Services to ensure the safety and security of the campus community.