Sven Alskog
News Editor
Idaho State University Director of Public Safety Stephen Chatterton retired from his position and the university earlier this month after 23 years of service.
Cal Edwards has taken over as the interim director.
Edwards is the chief of police for the city of Inkom and leads the law enforcement program at ISU. He has been involved with the university for the past 16 years.
“He was already a member of the Bengal community and was on campus and he will be assisting us in the national search for a new permanent director,” said Adrienne King, ISU’s Director of Marketing and Communications.
“It was unexpected, I worked really closely with [Chatterton] and all of the officers I have trained,” said Edwards. “I also teach concealed weapons classes to the public.”
Within his new position Edwards has already hit the ground running.
“Lots of new, good changes,” said Edwards. “We will be making a name change from public safety to campus security [Jan. 16,]” he said. “We will be changing the logos and everything on the vehicles, uniforms and everything else.”
Another item on the agenda for Edwards is to have his staff trained as EMTs.
“Our normal response time is two minutes,” Edwards said. “We know the campus and the buildings.”
Edwards said the proximity to where on-campus incidents can come up makes it important for an on-site EMT to be available quickly.
According to King, Chatterton’s retirement did not come as a shock as he had spoke of it for quite some time, although the timing of the announcement was a little unexpected.
“It certainly took us by surprise that he decided to do it now,” said King.
During Chatterton’s service to ISU, the university on multiple instances was nationally named among the safest college campuses in the country.
“Their number one concern is the safety of our faculty, staff and students,” said King of Chatterton and his team.
Prior to Chatterton’s arrival at ISU he had established a reputable career in law enforcement, working with the Bannock County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Army, the State of Idaho Department of Law Enforcement and the Idaho National Laboratory.
“There is not one person on this campus that isn’t incredibly sorry to see him go,” said King.
Recently, issues between the formerly titled public safety and the Pocatello Police Department have been publicized, including issues with communicating situations to the Pocatello Police Department, the use of lights on public safety vehicles and the cancellation of an order for guns for public safety officers’ use in the event of an active shooter situation.
Edwards reportedly has a strong relationship with the police department that has been built over the last couple of decades.
“In the past there have been breakdowns between police and public safety, but I get along with everybody,” said Edwards. “We know our jobs and will stay within our boundaries. We will report all crimes to [the] Pocatello [Police Department.] My attitude is if we have a crime the police department needs to handle it and not us.”
His relationship with the police department is something that made Edwards a natural fit for the new role as interim director.
“My intentions are to be working closely with the Pocatello [Police Department,]” Edwards added. “This is very important.”
Edwards is a 32-year veteran police officer and has held roles as a county coroner for eight years in Twin Falls and four years as a paramedic. He has also been a firefighter and is the former coordinator of the Idaho State Police Academy in Meridian, Idaho.
During his time as the interim director Edwards will continue to run the College of Technology Law Enforcement program.
According to Edwards the university will go forward to hire a full-time campus security director. It is unknown how long the process will take.
Staff Writer Tash Mahnokaren contributed to this story.
