According to a Dec. 4, 2025 email from the Dean of Students, Stacy Spell became the Director of Campus Safety after serving as the Associate Director.
Prior to his arrival at Occidental, Spell spent 29 years with the Los Angeles Police Dept. He served as a police captain and LAPD’s Public Information Director. Spell holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from the University of La Verne and a master’s degree in emergency services administration from California State University, Long Beach.
Spell said he worked as a gang cop, narcotics lieutenant, captain, Deputy Chief and assistant director of the Office of Operations during his time with the LAPD. Spell said he worked as the LAPD Public Information Director for two years.
“We had a public information director that was the civilian equivalent [of] a commander,” Spell said.
Spell said before he joined the LAPD, he joined the military when he was 17 years old.
“I was already considered a combat veteran by the time I was 20,” Spell said. “I served in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during [Operation] Desert Storm, and then […] joined the police department at a really young age. I was really fortunate that I seized opportunities when they arose to work specialized assignments.”
Spell also said he was a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Spell said the training he went through there has influenced his approach to conflict resolution.
“I was in Quantico for 10 weeks and did some classes accredited through the University of Virginia,” Spell said. “My approach […] is heavily geared towards de-escalation, but I also try to find middle ground. That kind of education has overlapped with my experience and helped guide my decision making.”
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Vivian Santiago said Spell served capably as Interim Director last fall. Santiago said Spell strengthened departmental cohesion, training and strategic leadership despite vacancies within the Campus Safety leadership team.
“His strong performance led us to invite him to serve as Director,” Santiago said via email. “His prior experience with the LAPD brings valuable expertise as we continue strengthening campus-wide emergency preparedness and response efforts, and his collaborative leadership style has earned the respect of colleagues across campus.”
Spell said he was drawn to Occidental because he wanted an opportunity that would provide him with a better work-life balance. Spell also said he values the role of higher learning and educational institutions.
“There’s […] a genuine sincerity [here],” Spell said. “I enjoy being in an environment where I can make a difference.”
Spell said his vision for the Campus Safety Department going forward includes data-focused safety, analysis of industry standards, increased collaboration and engagement with Project SAFE as well as Emmons Wellness Center, officer wellbeing, brand management and development of training programs.
“You can’t really analyze performance unless you know, for example, how many calls per service [we are] responding to each month,” Spell said. “I want to look at what Claremont or Chapman or Redlands [are] doing…[I am] making sure that we’re scheduling, we’re staffing properly, that we have adequate training fleet […] I want us to be the kind of department where people say, […] ‘Occidental campus is […] the industry standard.’”
Sergeant for Campus Safety Elarryo Bolden said it is not unusual for colleges like Occidental to look for experienced professionals when hiring for their respective campus safety departments.
“[Spell fits] that category as an […] individual who has experience in the upper ranks of public safety, so it seemed like a natural fit,” Bolden said. “He also brings a breadth of experience which I think all the officers can learn from.”
Bolden said individuals like Spell are able to stay calm in the face of dangerous circumstances.
“When very serious things happen in this world, you want people who have experienced enough to know that even though there may be a crisis [at hand], the leaders themselves don’t have to add to that crisis,” Bolden said. “A calm demeanor de-escalates a lot of things […] [which helps] in chaotic situations.”
Spell said his work with law enforcement in the past gives him a clear vision as to what he wants to accomplish with the Campus Safety at Occidental.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but the fact that I come [here] with the level of experience that I have […] helps me [with] the implementation of those ideas and those visions,” Spell said. “[I am able to] talk to my officers and say, ‘OK, this is what we need to do to make this happen.’”
Contact Josey Long at jlong2@oxy.edu
