“It doesn’t even seem like it’s that long,” Mouton says. “It seems like I just met those people a few weeks ago. I can still remember who they are. I can still see their faces. You just never forget. You never do.”

In the Aftermath, an Officer’s View from the Frontlines

Sept. 11, 2001, started as a normal day for Witherspoon, who is now part of UCFPD’s special operations division. Then Witherspoon and his partner got a call that a plane had crashed into one of the towers. When they received another call a few minutes later about the second tower, they knew something was seriously wrong.

“The first day we didn’t know exactly what was going on,” he says. “We were listening to the radio and we could hear officers screaming over the radio, calling for help and all types of things going on. We knew something serious was going on, but at that time, we didn’t know it was a terrorist attack.”

Witherspoon didn’t report to the World Trade Center that day, but he did arrive in downtown Manhattan the next day to work the security detail around the site’s perimeter. He stayed at that post for the rest of the year.

He remembers an eerie calm over the usually bustling city in the days after the attack.

“It was like watching one of those movies where there’s just total destruction,” Witherspoon says. “There’s nobody around, and all of the buildings were still covered in soot and ash. It was really just a sight to behold.”

Witherspoon didn’t know any fellow police officers who lost their lives on 9/11, but he did know a firefighter who responded and perished. The 20-year NYPD veteran remembers standing outside working security while watching his brothers in blue and fellow first responders going in and trying to rescue those who might still be in the building.

“It’s one thing about being a cop that you learn over the years, you obviously want to be in the middle of what’s going on,” Witherpoon says. “As most people are running away, we’re running into the danger. You want to help. It’s just a feeling that never goes away, you want to go in and help.”

Americans from across the country stepped up too, he says.

“That was a point in time and a period in history where it seemed like everyone came together,” he says. “Everybody was there to help. It really brought home what first responders do. Because from that day forward, a lot of people will come up and thank you for your service.”

Across the River, Advocates Offer Comfort and Support

As Witherspoon protected Ground Zero, Mouton and her team were across the Hudson River consoling those who lost loved ones in the attack.

Mouton, who was working in Melbourne at the time, was in a staff meeting that was interrupted with instructions to turn on the news. Minutes later, her team was deployed to New York as crisis responders.

Because planes weren’t yet back in the air, her team made the 24-hour drive to New Jersey, where they reported to the family assistance center. Though they’d been trained in crisis response, nobody could be prepared for an event of 9/11’s magnitude.

“This was nothing that anybody had ever envisioned as a crisis responder, so the books kind of went out the window, so to speak,” Mouton says.

They set up a companioning model, where victims could report to the center and be assigned to an advocate that would accompany them and explain services. There was an area for social security, a place for DNA samples to be given in the hopes it would aid in identifying loved ones, and a process for death certificates.

Eventually, family members were allowed to collect ashes from the 9/11 site.

“They had a really nice memorial where they brought them over from the other side of the river,” Mouton recalls. “A bagpipe was played and there was a police escort and family members were able to come back down and pick up a box if they chose to do that because there really wasn’t going to be much for them other than that one box.”

One night, Mouton’s group was able to leave the center and visit the site themselves. Her experience was similar to Witherspoon’s.

“You could taste and feel the grit and dust in the air,” she says. “We could hear this thunder rolling down the street and sure enough, here comes this huge flatbed truck. It had these humongous pieces of iron girder on the back and they were just crushed like tissue paper. When you see something that’s supposed to be that strong, it’s just like, there are really no more survivors there.”

Mouton’s team was there for almost two weeks. The Florida Crisis Team that she was part of had other members at the actual site debriefing first responders, patrol officers and others who were helping with body identification.

“There were a lot of intense stories that were shared, and you don’t ever forget those kinds of stories,” she says. “It’s almost in that moment someone has shared something really intimate with you and you don’t ever want to let it go. You just always carry it with you and you don’t ever forget. You never forget.”

UCF honored employees for reaching 5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service; recognized recent retirees; and presented the Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards for saving or maximizing tax dollars and promoting innovation. UCF also debuted the inaugural Employee Excellence awards, which highlighted A&P, USPS and OPS-non-student employees who made exceptional contributions to the campus community.

“Today we get the opportunity to show you our gratitude and to celebrate the difference you make — every day of the year — at our university, in our community and in the lives of our students and their families,” UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright said during the event. “We are so grateful that each of you chooses UCF as your professional home, and for the impact you have on our community every day.”

Past Founders’ Day ceremonies celebrated the excellence of UCF’s students and faculty. This year, the university included the annual staff employee recognition event — previously known as the Knight Star Awards — to make Founders’ Day a day-long celebration of all who contribute to the institution’s growing excellence. And more than just the employee event offered something new.

For instance, at the afternoon Faculty Honors Celebration, a surprise inaugural Champion of Student Success Award went to Paige Borden ’95MBA ’00EdD, UCF’s chief analytics officer. The honor from the Division of Student Success and Well-Being recognizes a person, team, department or college for exemplary support of faculty and university-wide student success initiatives.

Surprises at the employee event included the unveiling of the winners of the Employee Excellence Awards. More than 100 nominees came from members of the President’s Cabinet, the provost’s leadership team and college deans.

The excellence awards recognized honorees in five categories:

Employee Excellence Awards for Community Well-being

• Jurnee Luke, victim specialist, UCF Victim Services
• Ryan Iocco, director of Student Care Services, Division of Student Success and Well-Being

Employee Excellence Awards for Student Success

• Vanessa Gonzalez, academic advisor II, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Christin Saro, academic advisor III, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Employee Excellence Awards for Service Excellence

• Matt Winstel, lead school certifying official, Department of Military and Veteran Student Success
• Seth Dwyer, library technical supervisor, UCF Libraries

Employee Excellence Awards for Discovery and Innovation

• Josh Roney, director of Research Development, Office of Research
• Sandra Hick, chemical safety officer, Office of Environmental Health and Safety

Employee Excellence Awards for Operational Excellence

• Jordan Castillo, payroll specialist III, UCF Human Resources
• Seresa Cruz, budget director III, College of Sciences
  

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Additional 2023 employee honorees include:

TaxWatch Productivity Awards

Administration & Finance

• Shelly King, Dale Lance, Saul Santiago and Duane Siemen, Department of Utilities and Engineering Services

Adaptive Planning Phase One Project Team

• • Regino Besana, Varsha Das, John Gyory, Sean Simmons and Elena Wilson

Steven Freund, UCF Department of Security

Employee Service Awards

40 Years of Service

• Jim Ennis
• Lee Kirkpatrick

35 Years of Service

• Tamara Jones

30 Years of Service

• Dore Carter
• William Harding
• David Healy
• Stephon Lewis
• Peter Mitchell
• Christine Suleski
• James Wilkening

25 Years of Service

• Seresa Cruz
• Mark Darty
• Melisa Grzanich
• Grissel Guzman-David
• Dawn Herrod
• Tanya Hicks
• Sandra Jaggernauth
• Jacqueline Johnson
• Suzi Katz
• Kate Knowles
• Gloria Martinez Mangual
• Traci Milbuta
• Jesus Munoz
• Ana Petkov
• Juanita Sembrano
• James Smith Jr.
• Derrick Stockdreher
• Samuel Waters
• Eric Wayte
• Valeska Wilson-Cathcart
• Cathy Woolwine

20 Years of Service

• Barbara Antonisen
• Regino Besana
• Karen Black
• Gary Cahen
• Chantel Carter
• Michael Charles
• Youndy Cook
• Mireya Cortes
• Matthew Cronan
• Jose Cruz-Morales
• Page Curry
• Cynthia Dancel
• Son Do
• Karen Du
• Carol Ann Dykes Logue
• Paul Edlen
• Francisco Espaillat
• Delia Garcia
• Nancy Gayton
• Lucia Gorajuria
• Pauline Heinz Strauss
• Felipe Hernandez
• Denise Hiatt
• Karen Hofmann
• Martin Malpica
• David Merrill
• Donald Merritt
• Jorge Milanes
• John Miner
• Christine Mouton
• Dorann Mullins
• Arlene Ollivierre
• Vivian Ortiz
• Cheryl Padgett
• Hetal Patel
• Scottie Pausal
• Richard Payne
• Rosario Pizarro
• Rebecca Pluguez
• James Schaus
• Gladys Serrano
• Kimberly Snoeblen
• Dan Stanchina
• Karen Tinsley-Kim
• Debra Urban
• Rebecca Vilsack
• Vicki Vitale
• Andre Watts
• Terry Wheeler
• Elena Wilson
• Jennifer Wright

15 Years of Service

• Matthew Ahearn
• Josefina Aleman
• Debra Barnes
• Carol Bartley
• Nathalia Bauer
• Lashanda Brown-Neal
• Miriam Cabrera
• Yolanda Carmona
• Laurie Carroll
• Mariana Chao
• Margie Chusmir
• Katherine Compton
• Shameika Daye
• Javier De Jesus Garcia
• Jessica X. Dong
• Millicent Downer
• Jacqueline Dunston
• Alan Elliot
• Kelly Fernandez
• Traci Fisher
• David Gallucci
• Doreen Gomez-Ramos
• Christie Hasegawa
• Ordella Hawkins
• Ana Hernandez
• Maritza Hernandez-Feliciano
• Lynell Hodge
• Christopher Holt
• Andrew Hosler
• Kevin Hurst
• Bunnie Jackson
• Wayne Jackson
• Katie Korkosz
• Jason Kuhns
• Greg Larkin
• Bethany Larson
• Rodrigo Lenartowicz
• Fanny Lopez
• Felipe Mendez Rivera
• Jaime Morales
• Rebecca Morales Magsino
• Angela Moten
• Marcia Munroe
• Molly Myers
• Niranjanaben Nayee
• Angela Neri
• Lisa Newberry
• Eric Nielsen
• Holly Oleske
• Shelly Osborne
• Michael Palmer
• Jenny Pan
• Sheri Pearson
• Geysha Perez
• Alicia Pineiro
• Hector Polit
• Maria Reina
• Karen Reinemund
• Charles Roberts
• Jacqueline Rodriguez
• Jerry Ross
• Eileen Ryan
• Osvel Sarduy Rodriguez
• Tracie Saunders
• Mary Schmidt-Owens
• Steven Sesit
• Misty Shepherd
• Tish Sheppard
• Aaron Spies
• Rachel Straney
• Jorge Talavera
• Carmen Ternette
• Jessica Torres
• Kim Tuorto
• Pamela Turlington
• Luke Van Blaricom
• Maribel Villanueva
• Lady Virviescas
• Larry Walker
• Lauren Waters
• Joel Witherspoon
• Suhtling Wong-Vienneau

10 Years of Service

• Gian-Karlo Alvarez
• Jim Barnes
• Brian Becht
• Philip Bellew
• Susan Bethel
• Erin Blackwell
• Glenda Brown
• Priscilla Camp
• Jenna Capp
• Shafaq Chaudhry
• Robert Ciullo
• Melissa Cowan
• Alex Davila
• Marta De Corral
• Karen Dlhosh
• Philomene Dorlus
• Debbie Doyle
• Seth Dwyer
• Rita Echeverria
• Brian Ecle
• Robert Eller
• Lorie Elrod
• Jennifer Fetterly
• Jeanette Galloway
• Catherine Gholson
• Megan Giddens
• Kendra Gilbertson
• Courtney Gilmartin
• Cissy Glowth
• Cesar Gomez
• Nika Gooding
• Erin Grainger
• John Gyory
• Annie Hackler
• Megan Haught
• Stephania Hayes
• Jonathan Hendricker
• Wdermis Hernandez Saldana
• Michael Herring
• Sandra Hick
• Kristal Holmes
• Tiffany Hughes
• Kate Hurt
• Ashley Ittersagen
• Jasmin Johnson
• Steven Keith
• Sandor Kelly
• Patricia Kentish
• Ariasari Lair
• Albert Lambright
• Shane Land
• Amanda Leite
• Ann Leonard
• Amanda Lindsay
• Stacy Little
• Philip Magyar
• Bill Marani
• Stan Marko
• Chris Martineau
• Scott Mauro
• Errol McIntosh
• Allison McKee
• Shawn McKinney
• Melanie Meisner
• Deidre Miles
• Jennifer Millikan
• Sara Monroe
• Carey Ann Morales
• Sean Mulligan
• Cyndia Muniz
• Elizabeth Nemec
• Douglas Nevel
• Jodie Nichols
• Jamie Owen
• Robinson Pamplona
• Nita Patel
• Ginny Pellam
• Wendy Perez
• Debbie Pope
• Rafael E. M. Pratts
• Kelli Prebyl-Gatzey
• Joey Raditch
• Sandra Rivera
• Ally Rodriguez
• Marcial Romero
• Joshua Roney
• Josefina Rosario
• Mercedes Salcedo-Gonzalez
• Ricardo Scuotto
• Scott Sedlak
• Daniel Sierra
• Andrea Smith-Brown
• Felecia Sookhoo
• Maricel Soto
• Fabiana Staton
• Laura Stephenson
• Brandon Stull
• Ricardo Suarez
• Simone Teel
• Chris Tellez
• Joseph Thalheimer
• Christopher Thompson
• April Torre
• Andres Torres
• Chanda Torres
• Darryl Tucker
• Erin Turner
• Jonathan Villadolid
• Eddie Villarrubia
• Lance Watkins
• Michael Weiss
• Alaina West
• Kyler Wilson
• Robert Wynn
• Ka Yam

5 Years of Service

• April Abreu
• Gordon Adams
• Theresa Alaniz
• Jessica Alves
• Tiffany Ambrose
• Doris Arlotta
• Mikala Armioia
• Shannon Ashworth
• Pamela Barkman
• Maria Barreto
• Bianca Becker
• Gillian Bernal
• Colleen Bickenbach
• Edward Blatzheim, III
• Francesca Botteri
• Courtney Bowles
• Jay Brethouwer
• Catherine Brown
• Eric Bryant
• Bridgett Burk
• Jimmy Burlison
• Nikitta Campbell
• Debbie Capone
• Monique Carter
• Dawn Castro
• Sary Chardon Micheli
• David Claus
• Carmen Colon
• Barbara Dahlstrom
• Carol Davella
• Amanda Dever
• Ryan Dickerson
• Sean Donovan
• Jessica Dorfman
• Paulina Dovali
• Michelle DuCharme
• Rene Dunoyer
• Khue Duong-Rymer
• Raymond Eccleston
• Daniel Eilen
• Suzanne Ekelund
• Bonnie Esparza
• Sarah Evans
• Jennifer Fazal
• Melvin Felton
• Eva Fernandez
• John Flannigan
• Adrienne Frame
• Kyle Fuchs
• Tamiko Fukuda
• Victor Gaytan
• Jamie Giller
• Jose Gomez
• George Gonzalez
• Leticia Gonzalez
• Vanessa Gonzalez
• Ashley Gonzalez Montanez
• Stephanie Gravell
• Andrew Green
• Carla Gripp
• Christina Grosso
• Ashley Guritza
• EfraĂ­n Guzman-Carreras
• Billy Hand
• Shannon Harmon
• Christopher Harris
• Lori Heinis
• Kathleen Herring
• Lyndsey Holland
• Randy Huckaba
• Nagy Ibrahim
• Alexia Ikpe
• Luevenia Jackson
• Drexler James
• Wen Jiang
• Kelsie Johnson
• Jonathan Jones
• ToCarra Jordan
• Laurie Kemper
• Joel Kennedy
• Erick Kepfer
• Marsha Kernica
• Diana Kerrison
• Daniel Kidder
• Wayneeta King
• Kerry Knapp
• Elena Kovkin Chidester
• Jasmine Koyapathodi
• Benjamin Kreiter
• Rebecca Kuerbitz
• Avra Kundu
• Thomas Lancione
• Stephanie Layton
• Thierry Lechler
• Tedra Lyte
• Tameria Mace
• Jawahar Madineni
• James Makowski
• Marie Malazarte
• David Maldonado
• Samantha Mason
• Zachary McCarty
• Jayson McCluskey
• Cora McCormack
• Jennifer McKay
• Erika Menna
• Naomi Michelin
• Carlo Milanese
• Grant Mohi
• Brittany Moore
• Darlenny Mora
• Mary Moss
• Christopher Nault
• Diana Negron Reyes
• Douglas Osborne
• Saima Owens
• Kaushal Patel
• Alexandra Patteson
• Margaret Payne
• Monica Pollard
• Garrett Preisser
• Taylor Puentes
• Andrew Quigley
• Amanda Ramos
• Ashli Ransome
• Ian Rea
• Felix Rivera
• Robert Rivera
• Alexandra Rizzo
• Daniel Roberts
• Elfido Rodriguez
• Abigail Ruoss
• Lisa Ruscigno
• Aida Santana
• Johanny Santana
• Maria Saucedo
• Theresa Scipione
• Michael Setzer
• Asha Sharma
• James Shepard
• Marcus Silver
• James Smith
• Kenneth Smith
• John Sparkman
• Cheyenne St. Julian
• David Stoneburner
• Mihaela Tamasan
• Alfonso Tejeira
• Cynthia Teti
• Amber Thorne
• Maya Tolentino
• Katherine Torres
• Thuong Tran-Thuong
• Suzette Turner
• Edwin Vargas
• Hiroko Vargas
• Kate Verret
• Mykhael Walker
• Shirley Wang
• Derek Warden
• Terrell Wells
• Tasha Williams
• Eric Williamson
• Malvin Williams-Tyson
• Michael Wray-Facey

Recognition of Retirees

• Maureen Abou Waked
• Peggy Allen
• Raymond Anadio
• Billy Anderson
• Sherry Andrews
• Evelyne Azer
• Tracy Balkham
• Connie Bristow
• Eulalia Brown
• Richard Caldwell
• Teal Campbell
• Betty Carol
• Ida Cerezo
• Gordon Chavis
• James Clarke
• Laura Cleaver
• Kelly Cody
• Robin Collins
• Donald Colvin
• Eliseo Cromartie
• Pauline Davis
• Anthony Fannin
• Celeste Ferguson
• Anthony Flores
• Arlene Flores
• Alan Frantz
• Edward Freeman
• Sheryl Gamble
• Mike Hakemian
• Julian Hale
• Ronald Hitchcock
• Debbie Holcombe
• Alan Holtz
• Earnestine Jackson
• Margaret Jarrell-Cole
• Eileen Kelly
• Cheryll Kinlaw
• Susan Laden
• Erik Lashinsky
• Gerri Leviston
• Cathy Lewis
• Gregory Lof
• Kim Maclennan
• Duilio Mariola
• Donald Mcelvain
• Vickie McLeod
• Lillian McMahon
• Laura Mendoza
• Douglas Meuser
• Kathy Mitchell
• Christine Mucha
• Dao Nguyen
• Orlando Paniza
• Robert Parker
• Mary Perdomo
• Hector Petrolo
• Patricia Ramsey
• Mildred Rios
• Linda Perez-Rodriguez
• Mark Romans
• Lisa Roney
• Edgar Sanclemente Rodriguez
• Margarita Santiago
• Faith Schafer-Moody
• Jennifer Shambrook
• Sandy Smith
• Sue Sorensen
• Liz Stalvey
• Judith Stout
• Christopher Takach
• Brenda Thompson
• Barbara Thompson
• Joanna Thompson
• Abigail Troche
• Fran Uddo
• Zaida Valentin
• Manuel Velez
• Brad Waldo
• Eric Walton
• Kay West
• Ami Zuclich

After weeks of speaking with doctors and undergoing physical therapy, Mabrey finally felt she was ready to look at her injuries. What she saw in the mirror wasn’t the same woman she knew, one who had won beauty pageants as a child. Instead she was looking at what she describes as a horror-film monster like Freddy Krueger. More than 80 percent of her body had been burned. In that moment a flood of memories from the attack came over her.

“[My now ex-husband] might have robbed me physically, but I refused to allow him to rob me mentally, emotionally or spiritually.” – Audrey Mabrey

“I could see that butcher knife held to my throat as he attempted to rape me,” Mabrey says. “I could feel him bludgeoning me in the head over and over. I could taste the gasoline in my mouth. I could smell my burning flesh and I could hear my neighbor screaming as she rushed to my aid.”

Although it was overwhelming, Mabrey made a choice as she stared at her reflection to hold onto hope.

“My thought process in that moment was [my now ex-husband] might have robbed me physically, but I refused to allow him to rob me mentally, emotionally or spiritually,” Mabrey says.

Three years later Mabrey’s abuser was sentenced to serve life in prison and in the nine years since the attack she’s undergone many plastic surgeries to restore her former appearance as much as possible. She’s also kept her determined, positive spirit alive by traveling the country to spread awareness on domestic violence, an issue that affected more than 12 million men and women in the United States last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Confidential Campus Support 

One of her recent speaking engagements took place earlier this month at the annual Light Up the Night event, which is held every October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is put together by . The organization provides crisis intervention, safety and security for anyone in the UCF community that’s been impacted by crime, violence and abuse.

“We give [victims] their options — the good, the bad and the ugly — ask them ‘What do you want to do?’ and listen to them,” says Lauren Portal ’11, who began working as an advocate for Victim Services in 2014. “We’re completely confidential, which is extremely important. We don’t call the police over if [victims] don’t want us to, we don’t report incidences to Title IX and things of that nature.”

On college campuses, 43 percent of women who date report experiencing some sort of violent or abusive dating behavior, with more than half of students finding it difficult to identify these problems at all, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

“Abusers are very good at presenting things in a way like they’re loving and caring about their partner.” – Christine Mouton ’02MS,

“The problem is those things happen over a long period of time and people don’t recognize them as the signs they are because they’re so incremental,” says Christine Mouton ’02MS, director of Victim Services. “Abusers are very good at presenting things in a way like they’re loving and caring about their partner, so their partner doesn’t initially perceive it as a controlling behavior.”

Changes in behavior and clothing, not wanting to hang out often and always checking in with their partner are some of the signs Mouton says to look for if you suspect someone is experiencing domestic violence.

Challenges With Coming Forward 

Victim Services has provided help to 600-800 people affected by a range of crimes each year for the past three years.

Although recent movements like #MeToo and events such as the Brett Kavanaugh investigation before his Supreme Court confirmation have increased the national conversation around sexual harassment and violence, Mouton says she hasn’t found any indicators of increased cases reported at UCF.

Men, particularly, have a hard time reporting abuse, she says. It can often feel emasculating for them to admit a woman is their abuser, although there are now more than ever before. Often the abuse takes the form of scratching, screaming and other demeaning behavior.

“We’re seeing this on both sides, in all types of relationships,” Mouton says.

How to Get Help 

Anyone seeking help from Victim Services can call the 24/7 hotline at 407-823-1200 or text 407-823-6868. They can speak with an advocate, who has at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, has completed 40 hours of victim-designation training, and regularly attends conferences and workshops to advance their training. From there, the caller will be provided with campus and community resources to find the right support for them.

“A lot of times victims won’t like to talk about it because it makes it more real, but we’re literally an ear.” – Lauren Portal ’11

“We have a relationship assessment that we give [victims when they contact us] and it goes from less serious to really serious behavior,” Mouton says. “When you put a list in front of them, once they see all those checks, it’s a reality check for them.”

The advocates will also talk through a list of reporting options with the victim, such as filing a police report, injunction or order of protection, but will never try to persuade someone to do so if they aren’t comfortable.

“A lot of times victims won’t like to talk about it because it makes it more real, but we’re literally an ear,” Portal says. “We want to listen to you. We’re not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

For more information about Victim Services, visit . You can also visit their main office in Suite 450 of the on Research Parkway or their on-campus locations on the second floor of the and the Green Dot office in the .

On his worst, he was evacuating threatened students from Tower 1 residence hall.

But through his 41 years in law enforcement, there’s been one constant for Beary.

He cared.

And he has taught his officers to care.

“Law enforcement is still a face-to-face business,” Beary says. “I will ask my officers: ‘Tell me what you did this week to show you cared,’ and they share with me the things they did. As long as we care, and the public knows we care, this will be a great community. That’s when you know we’re in a good place.”

“As long as we care, and the public knows we care, this will be a great community.”

The Lake Mary resident will retire this week after spending 11 years overseeing , UCF’s and the Department of Security and Emergency Management. Combined with his 15 years of experience as chief of police for Lake Mary, he retires as the most tenured law enforcement executive in Central Florida.

“Under Chief Beary’s extraordinary leadership, the police force at UCF has become an innovative pacesetter for campus police organizations worldwide,” UCF President John Hitt says. “He has worked tirelessly to enhance safety, prevent crime, and strengthen ties among many campus and community stakeholders. The result is a better quality of life for UCF students, faculty, staff, and visitors.”

Call of Duty

Beary graduated from the police academy at Seminole State College in 1977 at the age of 18 as the youngest officer in Florida. So young, in fact, that he needed his parents to purchase his gun and bullets for him.

But his first glimpse of life in public service happened well before then.

His father, Ray, was the chief of Maitland and Winter Park, and his older brother, Kevin, was the former Orange County sheriff.

As a child, Beary remembers many nights hanging around the Bearys’ kitchen table where his father plotted raids alongside members from local organized-crime units.

“When you grow up around it and you see that you’re supposed to help other people and supposed to support your community and do the right thing, you fall into that mindset,” Beary says. “It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

And Beary has done it well.

He was inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame in 2017 and has twice been awarded the Medal of Valor for performance undertaken at great personal hazard.

In 2014, he became the first police chief of a university or college law enforcement agency to serve as president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, an organization of more than 22,000 members at the time.

Perhaps, though, the greatest testament to his legacy is that his children have followed his lead.

His son, Greg, who earned his degree from UCF in criminal justice in 2011, works for the Orlando Police Department, and his daughter, Jill, is a homicide detective with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

“I didn’t direct my children into law enforcement. They made those decisions on their own,” he says. “They do a great job and are very dedicated employees. I’m really proud of their careers.”

Protecting Knight Nation

When Beary arrived at UCF in June 2007, he focused on building a team that incorporated good community policing and mental-health training. He believes those two priorities are the bedrocks of an effective unit.

“The community has to support you, understand your mission and they have to want to be a part of keeping their community safe,” he says. “As for the mental-health piece, we deal with so many people who are in crisis, so we need to teach people how to deal with that.”

That philosophy has led to a soft interview room at the UCFPD station for victims of violent crimes, and Paisley, the department’s first therapy dog.

Whether it is improving their services for victims or making the community stronger, Beary said his proudest moments as chief are when his staff comes to him with ideas to address these needs.

“When your people are thinking about things [ like victim services and community building], that’s when you know you’ve had an impact.”

“When your people are thinking about these things, that’s when you know you’ve had an impact,” he says.

A self-proclaimed college football fanatic, one of his most memorable days was the football team’s first game in its on-campus stadium in 2007 against Texas.

It was his 79th day on the job.

“It was organized chaos. We did a great job of adapting on the run. It was a very challenging day, but it was very rewarding because every obstacle that got thrown at us, we handled, all the way down to a lightning delay at the football game,” he says. “All the contingency plans we had, everything happened that first game. It really bonded those of us that worked it.”

His face lights up when he talks about witnessing the Knights’ last home games of the 2017 season – the memorable wins over rival USF and Memphis to clinch the American Athletic Conference Championship. When UCF punched its ticket to the Peach Bowl, Beary traveled to Atlanta with his wife to support the Knights in perhaps the most thrilling game in school history.

“My wife never knew I could yell like that,” he said with a laugh. “She had never been to a ball game with me because I’m always working. When you saw the heart of our student-athletes, how they really and truly cared in what they brought forward – to be a part of that was a lot of fun.”

He has also experienced some truly terrible days – the ones that every officer hopes to avoid, but prepares for if they come. Without hesitation, he cites March 18, 2013, as his hardest day at UCF – the day a former student planned a gun attack but instead took his life at Tower 1.

“I think that’s where education keeps you current and helps you adapt to how the world is changing.”

“That was a very, very difficult day when you come to the realization 
 there is evil in this world. Only by some good police work and the grace of God did we avoid that,” he says. “No matter how much we try to do, when you are an open community, there’s chances for these kinds of people. We doubled down on our training. We made a lot of changes internally at the university. We really focus on trying to make sure no one slips through the cracks.”

In addition to his service to the university, Beary further cemented his bond to UCF when he earned his master’s degree in criminal justice in 2011. He recalls spending more time at the kitchen table completing homework than his daughter, a high school senior at the time, and pre-teen sons. Still, he credits education as a crucial tool in making him into a better officer.

“Anybody can sit in a job and keep doing the same thing over and over. The key is what’s going to be happening next? How are you going to handle things as they evolve?” he says. “I think that’s where education keeps you current and helps you adapt to how the world is changing.”

Trading in a Cruiser for a Cadillac

When Beary announced his retirement from UCF in November, he quoted his father in his letter to his officers: “Train the next generation of leaders — then step aside and give them the opportunity to step up and excel.”

Beary says the time feels right now, but he won’t quit the badge completely.

He plans to teach law enforcement leadership and officer- safety programs for the federal government and also act as a consultant for local companies.

As he reflects on the past four decades and what he’s learned, he says there are three tenets that seem to have guided his every move.

It’s simple ideology, but maybe that’s why it works, and it’s what he hopes his officers at UCF carry on after he’s gone:

1. Honor your oath of office. It’s critical.
2. Be humble with your authority.
3. Always stay current and constantly advance your training.

As for what he’ll do when he actually takes some time to relax?

There’s grandkids to play with and a to-do list five years in the making. At the top is organizing his workshop at a house he owns in Georgia near a lake.

And there will definitely be some joyrides in his white, 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible with plenty of memories in the rearview mirror.

The mock trial will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

The trial will include testimony, cross-examinations, and a chance for attendees to be a part of the jury. Student actors and professionals from campus and the community will play different roles.

The event, in its 4th year, is sponsored by UCF Victim Services and Knight Advocates.

A traditional interview room at UCFPD was transformed into soothing, homey space thanks to the generous donation of Veronica and Tony Figueroa of Re/Max Innovation based in Avalon Park.

The goal of the room is to better serve victims of crimes such as sexual assault and stalking by having an environment that makes them feel safe sharing their stories.

“While it doesn’t change the violent crimes that happen, it does provide an opportunity for the victims to come forward in a safe, comfortable atmosphere,” said UCF Police Chief Richard Beary. “It’s a great first step in helping them heal, and it also assists us in our ability to prosecute cases.”

The room will be available 24/7 for victims who elect to report to UCFPD.

Coming forward to police is just one way to report interpersonal violence at UCF.

UCF encourages its members of its community to speak up if they’ve been victimized – whether through confidential disclosure to a victim advocate, filing a Title IX report, or reporting to police—so that the university can connect them with support and other resources.

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and will fill the Pegasus Ballroom in the Student Union with a variety of on and off-campus organizations and resources dedicating to keeping students safe. In its eighth year, the annual event is held in honor of National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

In addition to tabling, giveaways, and free food, there will be a magic show from UCFPD’s very own Officer Frank Imparato, a self-defense demo, hands-only CPR training and other activities.

Campus Safety Fair sponsors include UCF Victim Services, the UCF Police Department, UCF Department of Security and Emergency Management, UCF Environmental Health and Safety, Green Dot UCF and UCF Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Visit the to RSVP and for updates.

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and will fill the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union with a variety of on and off-campus organizations and resources dedicating to keeping the community safe. In its eighth year, the annual event is held in honor of September’s National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

In addition to tabling and giveaways, there will be a magic show, a self-defense demo, hands-only CPR training and other activities.

Campus Safety Fair sponsors include UCF Victim Services, the UCF Police Department, UCF Department of Security and Emergency Management, UCF Environmental Health and Safety, Green Dot UCF and UCF Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Visit the for updates and to RSVP.

The event will go from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Café Bustelo in the Student Union.

Attendees can chat with officers and victim advocates about any topic, all while enjoying a free cup of coffee courtesy of Café Bustelo.

This is will be the third time UCFPD and UCF Dining Services are partnering on Coffee With a Cop.

Victim advocates are joining this event in honor of January’s Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human trafficking is believed to be the third-largest crime in the world, according to the FBI, and it’s often referred to as modern-day slavery.

Orlando is a particularly popular area for human trafficking due to the booming tourism industry, and college-aged people are especially vulnerable because traffickers often use social media to target and entice them.

Advocates and officers will answer questions about human trafficking, and attendees are encouraged to bring any other questions and feedback.

The event, in its third year, is sponsored by Victim Services. Doors to Student Union room 316 will open at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, and the judge will convene the trial at 6 p.m. There was a large crowd at last year’s event, so be sure to get there early to get a seat.

The mock trial aims to give victims of sexual assault the courage to take action and to say something, along with giving others a new understanding of why it is so important to support victims of crime, to have the difficult conversations and to do the right thing.

“It’s a safe space to observe, participate and get information,” said Christey Oberbeck, UCF victim advocate and coordinator of the mock trial. “It’s also an opportunity to see the complicated issue of sexual assault from the perspective of the victim and alleged perpetrator.”

At the conclusion of the trial, a panel that will include a victim advocate, police chief and faculty member will answer any questions.

The Sexual Assault Mock Trial is open to the public and is free, however UCF Victim Services will be collecting nonperishable food items for the Knights Helping Knights Pantry to support the UCF community as the holiday season approaches.