Changes announced in Public Safety, CEPaR

Jasper Cooke, formerly director of the Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPaR) team, has been named deputy chief. In that role, he will be directly responsible for Public Safety’s patrol operations.

“It was important that Public Safety had a leader to keep an eye on the day-to-day details of Patrol, but who also has the experience to adjust personnel and assignments based on the operational need at any given time,” said James Lyon, director of Public Safety.  “It was also important to have someone fill that role who has a shared community policing philosophy as I do, to ensure that community engagement is intertwined within the entire department.”

Cooke has a long career in law enforcement, including serving as chief of police at Augusta State University prior to consolidation.

Maj. Eugene Maxwell will assume command of the professional standards division.

Joe Weber, formerly the CEPaR coordinator, will move into the interim director’s position within CEPaR.

According to Lyon, the changes, which includes adding the Community Services and Professional Standards divisions, are necessary to ensure that the department’s resources are used in the most efficient and effective ways possible.