UMBC Chief of Police Paul Dillon to Retire

Dear UMBC Community,

After 12 years of dedicated service to our campus community, UMBC Police Chief Paul Dillon has announced that he will retire from UMBC effective February 25, 2022. Chief Dillon came to UMBC from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2010 as Deputy Chief, and became Chief of Police in 2018.

I have asked UMBC’s Deputy Chief of Police, Major Bruce Perry ‘97, psychology, to serve as Acting Chief of Police upon Chief Dillion’s departure. Major Perry has been a member of UMBC’s Police Department since 1998; I look forward to working with him in his new role.

Throughout his time at UMBC, Chief Dillon has applied his wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, and staff to live, work, and learn.  He has developed, implemented, and led many key public safety initiatives for the campus, including the campus text alert system and an updated emergency preparedness plan.

A strong advocate for equality, tolerance, and inclusiveness, Chief Dillon is a representative and advisor for several campus groups, including the Behavioral Risk Assessment and Consultation Team (BRACT), LGBTQ Climate Group, and Relationship Violence Awareness and Prevention Advocates group.

Most recently, Chief Dillon had provided remarkable leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his work with the COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee, as well as his leadership of the Contact Response Team, Chief Dillion’s vast knowledge and expertise in crisis and emergency management has proven invaluable.

Last, but certainly not least, UMBC Police added its first community outreach officer during Chief Dillon’s tenure, and welcomed “Officer Chip,” our certified comfort dog, to support UMBC community members in distress.

Our campus is safer and more prepared for emergencies due to Chief Dillon’s professionalism and hard work. His good nature, collegiality, and sense of humor will be missed. He and his wife, Cynthia, are the proud parents of three children, including two Retriever alumni: Jake Dillon ‘16, a Sondheim Scholar, who is an economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Katie Dillon ‘18, a Center for Women in Technology Scholar, who is a software engineer for Google. Their daughter Grace earned a degree in musical theater from Otterbein University in 2021 and is pursuing an acting career in New York City.

Please join me in congratulating Paul and wishing him all the best in his next adventures!

Kathy L. Dettloff, Vice President for Administration and Finance