Yale University Announces New Assistant Chief of Police

Yale University Chief of Police James A. Perrotti has named Lieutenant Ronnell Higgins as the university’s new assistant chief of police.

In that post, Higgins will oversee and manage the divisions that make up the operations portion of the department, with specific responsibilities to include patrol, investigative services, communications and emergency services.

Higgins began his career as a police officer with the Yale University Police Department in March 1997, serving in the Patrol Division and also the department’s Crime Suppression Unit.

In 1999, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served as the assistant patrol coordinator and the assistant investigative services coordinator.

In 2004, Higgins was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and served as a shift commander in the Patrol Division.  In 2006 he was named the commanding officer of the Patrol Division, which is the largest division in the Yale Police Department, with 77 uniformed officers deployed in radio cars, motorcycles, bicycles, foot patrols and a Segway.

Higgins received a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement Administration from the University of New Haven and an Associate’s Degree in General Studies from Gateway Community College.

His education and experience have been complemented by professional training which includes, but is not limited to, his attendance in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy 226th Session and Yale University’s Management and Training Institute.