May 02, 2017 09:53 AM EDT By Anne Collins, UniversityHerald Reporter

On Monday, Columbus State University officials has announced that Mark Lott as the new police chief. Lott was an interim since last fall and also served as assistant chief with the Columbus State University Police Department since 2006.

Gina Sheeks, vice president for student affairs at CSU said Lott's experience, expertise and service to CSU has garnered respect within the department and across campus. It made it easy for Sheeks to appoint Lott to the position because of these qualities.

Lott will oversee 24 sworn officers and 10 security personnel and will be responsible for the safety of about 8,400 students, 800 employees, visitors and off-campus outreach learning centers.

WRBL reported, CSU President Chris Markwood said Lott has been well-respected in Columbus and throughout the state. He added that Lott understands the safety of the campus and that the CSU family is of the utmost importance.

The 30-year law enforcement veteran has municipal, county and campus experience. Lott was an investigator at the Troup County Sheriff's Office and a deputy marshal with the Muscogee County Marshal's Office before he came to CSU in 2006.

Lott attended Columbus State University and was able to finish both Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and a Master of Public Administration. He has earned his FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Certification and Command College Certification.

He serves an instructor at the regional police academy, the Columbus Office of Homeland Security, at the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member for CSU's Department of Criminal Justice, The Columbus State University News reported.

Lott is known for his extensive training record in crisis intervention, community policing, executive protection, police use of force, and homeland security. He said he is excited about the opportunity and will continue to build partnerships with the university and Columbus community. He added that the looks forward to building an even stronger relationship with the department and the CSU students, faculty and staff.

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