Chief Cleveland Barnes, MS, and more than two dozen other members of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Police Force were formally honored at a June 27 ceremony. It was the first time that UMB has held a formal ceremony to install a new chief of police, a recognition of the higher stature of the force.

Barnes, who took the oath of office with his wife, Rosalind, at his side, is a 37-year veteran of the UMB Police Force, rising through the ranks from patrol officer. He was promoted to interim chief of police and director of public safety in July 2006, filling in for Edward Ballard when Ballard-also a general in the Maryland National Guard-shipped out to Afghanistan. Barnes was given the job on a permanent basis in September 2007, when Ballard retired.

"Cleveland Barnes is a very knowledgeable and seasoned police officer, long familiar with UMB," said James T. Hill, MPA, vice president of administration and finance at UMB.

Hill credited Barnes with updating the police force's training and preparedness during a time of significant campus growth, and amid heightened security concerns following the tragic campus emergencies at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois. The force consists of 66 sworn officers, augmented by 50 security officers, seven communication officers, and eight support staff. It was reaccredited last November by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

In addition to overseeing the safety of about 12,000 students and employees at UMB, the campus police force responds to the challenges posed by its busy location on downtown Baltimore's emerging west side. The campus includes two major hospitals, Maryland's largest dental care provider, a major drug treatment facility, and a day care center. It also has expanded across the eight lanes of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard with the growth of the University of Maryland BioPark.

Hill said of Barnes: "His leadership as director of public safety and chief of police will enhance the University Police Force's excellent tradition of providing quality professional services to the campus community."

In addition to honoring Barnes on his promotion to chief, 17 other members of the UMB Police Force received their certificates of promotion at the recognition ceremony. Another 11 new officers took the police oath, and five-including Ballard-were recognized on their retirements. A dozen new security officers also were among those honored. Officers received awards for meritorious service in five specific incidents, and two security officers-44-year veteran William "Bill" Groh and the late Larry Bacon-were honored for their service.

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