Howdy!
My name is Ed Costello and I am the Assistant Chief of Field Operations for the Texas A&M University Police Department. Our Field Operations Division is comprised of three sections: Patrol, Criminal Investigations and Security. Our Patrol and Security Sections are both uniformed and handle the day to day operations in the field. Our Criminal Investigations Section performs a multitude of tasks which includes follow up investigations on crimes reported to the Patrol Section.
At the Texas A&M University Police Department, our mission is to provide a safe and secure environment through education, the cooperative spirit of all University community members, and the enforcement of laws and regulations. The Support Services Division contributes greatly to this mission, delivering courteous, timely, and quality services to the members of our Department, our University community, the public, and other law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.
Thanks, and Gig ‘Em!
Ed Costello, Aggie Class of ’92 and ‘05
Assistant Chief of Support Services
The Field Operations Division is commanded by Assistant Chief Kary Shaffer. It is comprised of three sections: Criminal Investigations and the Victims' Advocate, Patrol, and Security.
The Field Operations Division is the fundamental service delivery team within the Texas A&M University Police Department and provides patrol operations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These services include providing the initial police response to 911 emergencies, all calls for service, and investigative follow-up. The Field operations division has the responsibility to pro-actively patrol the campus in an effort to prevent crime, solve problems, investigate crimes and vehicle accidents, make arrests pursuant to criminal behavior, provide safety escorts, serve as building liaisons, conduct safety programs, and building partnerships within the campus and local community.
The division’s goal is to provide a safe and secure environment conducive to learning and research.
The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) has the responsibility to investigate criminal offenses, apprehend offenders, recover stolen property, and seek prosecution. CID also provides various “plain clothes” services like Dignitary protection, student conduct security support, and job termination support, etc.
The Patrol Division, supervised by Lieutenants Mark Hartman and Ronnie Huddleston, is the heart of the department and the most visible to the general public. As the primary responsibility of this division, Texas A&M University police officers are on constant patrol of the campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to prevent crime, preserve the peace, and to protect life and property by enforcing the Texas state laws, and the Texas A&M University Rules and Regulations.
The Security Section provides contracted security services to members of both the University and RELLIS campuses. These include Residence Life dormitory housing and apartments, University Libraries, Veterinary complex, Engineering complex, as well as the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Security Officers are located throughout the campus and are dedicated to helping students, staff and visitors. They provide a proactive approach to assist with crime prevention and the immediate reporting of emergency/hazardous situations.
The Victim Services program aims to assist students, faculty and staff with the traumatizing consequences of being a victim of a crime, even if the crime occurred off campus. We also assist citizens and visitors of this community if they have been victimized while visiting the Texas A&M community. Appointments can be scheduled by phone and the Advocate is available to talk from the hours of 8am – 5pm. You may email the Advocate but remember that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when using email. Walk ins can be taken if the Advocate is available.