UTC police chief Sean O’Brien worked with the Chattanooga Police Department for 17 years. Photo by Angela Foster.
Sean O’Brien was officially sworn in as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga police chief this past May. As associate vice chancellor for public safety and chief of police, he is tasked with keeping everyone on campus safe.
Where are you originally from?
“I’m from New Jersey and I grew up about 20 minutes from New York City. I was a trooper for about seven years up there. My dad had been in the sock business for years, and the factory was up the road from here in Cleveland, Tennessee, which he became the primary owner of in the mid-90s. In 2001, my wife and I moved down here so I could work for him. In 2005, textiles here in the U.S. had gone downhill, but my wife and I loved living here and I missed law enforcement.
“I began working for the Chattanooga Police Department in 2007 and was a lieutenant in the CPD’s Neighborhood Policing Bureau. I became commander of the downtown area.”
What does being responsible for the safety of everyone on campus entail?
“A lot of what we do is straightforward, like providing police and security patrols around campus and ensuring specific buildings and housing on campus are secure.
“I also oversee our Environmental Health and Safety team, which includes everything from dealing with lab safety on campus to fire alarm systems and radio communications.
“We plan for different types of emergencies and work with various departments to communicate and respond effectively. I also partner with different groups on campus that are looking to support students, like the Center for Wellbeing, who we can support by making sure that students have access to things like Narcan. Building relationships and trust with students, faculty, staff and partners outside of campus is a big part of my role.”
What do you want students to know about you and your role on campus?
“I always tell folks that I wasn’t planning on going back to college at my age, but I was a college student once. Surprise, right? I know the college experience should be an exciting time for students. You’re literally building the leadership of this community—and even the country—for years to come. It starts on the college campus. So, my goal is for our folks to provide a safe place to do that.
“We aim to be visible, but not create a negative experience with law enforcement. It’s really about building relationships. I feel that when the campus community gets to know the police officers and the professional staff in public safety, they can start developing those relationships. That makes it a whole lot easier to have conversations about difficult topics.”
What are your tips for students to stay safe on campus?
“The biggest thing is situational awareness. Don’t have your head buried in your phone. We want to think the best of people, but there will always be bad actors in this world.
“Trust your gut—if something feels off, act on it. Call our dispatch or a friend and don’t ignore your instincts. Report anything that seems unusual. Remember, it’s not about fear but being observant and aware. At night, be extra cautious, let people know where you’re going, stay with someone or use our security escort services if needed.”
Chief Sean O’Brien
Who should students call or speak to if they’re in trouble?
“For emergencies, call 911 or campus dispatch.
“If it’s non-emergency and is about a type of misconduct or sexual offenses, there are multiple means of reporting, such as the Title IX office. You can go to any of the mental health providers on campus or you can come directly to us. People may not always feel comfortable talking to us as police officers, and that’s OK, but it’s important to find the resource that feels most comfortable for you.”
You’re still relatively new, and you haven’t had much experience with students since it is summer, so how do you plan on building those relationships?
“I’m marking Aug. 15, the big move-in day for students, on my calendar for my staff and me. I want us to be out and visible on campus. I have several meetings with different departments to discuss how we can support them and engage with students. Don’t be surprised if you see us at the University Center at lunch on any given day of the week, just to sit down with students and talk about whatever they want to talk about. For a lot of students, that could be their first engagement with law enforcement. We really want to build a culture of relationship building within our department.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share with students?
“On a personal level, my wife and I have lived in Chattanooga for 23 years. I love this city and want to build relationships with entities off campus to create a safe environment at UTC. With so many students growing up in an age of active violence, our primary focus is preventing those incidents and responding quickly and appropriately if they do occur. As long as I serve in this role, public safety will always be our goal.”
Police Chief Sean O’Brien is sworn in by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The bible holder was O’Brien’s wife, Janet. Photo by Noah Camacho.
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Sean O’Brien sworn in as UTC police chief
