Dear UNLV Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Arnold Vasquez as the Interim Director of University Police Services, Southern Command (UPD), beginning Aug. 1. 

The presidents of the College of Southern Nevada, Desert Research Institute, Nevada State University, and I made this decision mutually after receiving input from UPD staff and in consultation with the NSHE chancellor. 

Interim Dir. Vasquez has over 23 years of law enforcement experience, which includes management of police operations, training, investigations, special events, and administration. 

Prior to joining UPD as an assistant director in September 2022, he served for more than 20 years with the Santa Cruz Police Department in northern California. There, he progressed through the ranks and served in various leadership roles, including for a time as head of the City of Santa Cruz area command. Among his responsibilities were oversight of police operations, special enforcement teams and task forces, and regular collaboration with law enforcement partners and administrators at the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

As an assistant director with UPD, Interim Dir. Vasquez oversaw strategic planning, policy making, and maintaining organizational and operational effectiveness, as well as serving as the department’s public information officer. He is also a former UNLV student. 

A national search for a permanent director is planned to begin in January. I’m grateful to Interim Dir. Vasquez for serving in this important role, and to all of our UPD officers and staff for their dedication to our institutions and the thousands throughout Southern Nevada that we serve every day. 

Warm Regards,

Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.
President