Pete Deshpande has been hired by the University as the new Department of Public Safety police captain.
A University graduate, Deshpande comes with over 20 years of experience at the Eugene Police Department — including time spent as an acting captain.
“Captain Deshpande will lead the Safe Campus Team, develop a comprehensive community safety program, coordinate problem-solving police initiatives, help manage patrol operations and help lead the department’s policing transition,” said the UODPS press release.
In the press release, Deshpande noted that he looks forward to working with students to help solve problems they face everyday.
“Interacting with students, like my own kids and their friends, gives me a fresh, positive perspective,” Capt. Deshpande said of his career change. “So much of police work can be about seemingly unsolvable problems that it’s energizing to help create a positive environment for students who are going to go on and do great things.”