There is a new face in OUPD, and he is no stranger to the Athens community
Ohio University’s newest police officer is no stranger to Athens.
Officer Michael Meek, born and raised in Athens, began his first day with the Ohio University Police Department on Jan. 5, and was officially sworn in on Jan. 9.
Meek is the 27th OUPD officer, but the department has three sworn-officer positions open. He is paid $24.67 per hour, OUPD Lt. Tim Ryan said.
Before joining forces with OUPD, Meek attended Athens High School and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating. He was also a reserve deputy for the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Meek said part of his motivation in becoming a police officer in Athens was to help better the community where he was raised, while providing a safe environment for his children and future generations.
“I want my children to grow up in an area that I kind of grew up in,” Meek said.
During his time in the military, Meek served as a machine gunner and was deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan on three separate occasions.
“It was the rough living, and all of the stuff that comes with it,” Meek, 31, said.
Meek had only two career choices in mind throughout his lifetime: the U.S. military and law enforcement.
Following his military service, Meek enrolled in the police science program at Hocking College, where he will be receiving his associate’s degree at the end of the year.
Meek said his experiences traveling and interacting with several cultures provided him with a diverse perspective, which should be helpful serving the multicultural community in Athens.
“Right now, I’m just excited to start,” Meek said.
Cory Williamson, a former marine, said he learned a lot from Meek when they were serving in the same unit together.
“You won’t find anybody who is calmer under pressure,” Williamson said. “It’s important in the service to know the guy to your left (and) to your right has got your back no matter what. You just knew that about Mike.”
Since summer, the department has hired four new officers.
Each new recruit goes through a field training and evaluation program that lasts about 15 weeks.
“Once they complete the program, then we get the benefit of having the extra people out (responding to calls),” Ryan said.
Ryan added that the department feels a little short in staff, as two of its officers are currently tasked with handling the department’s K-9 unit, though the new officers should solve that problem.
OUPD Police Chief Andrew Powers said the purpose of hiring additional officers was to meet the “increased demands” for law enforcement at OU, including having more officers at special events such as football games, according to a previous Post report.
“The additional patrol officers will ensure the department can continue dedicating the amount of time to all of our calls that those calls demand and deserve,” Powers said.
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