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������-Dearborn’s Department of Public Safety is in the midst of a significant transformation. Over the last year, DPS has increased its workforce by hiring six more officers, with plans to hire an additional six officers by August 2025. 

 As the University of Michigan system branches into new locations — such as the Marygrove Learning Community in Detroit — Dearborn DPS’ responsibilities have expanded across Wayne County. DPS officers currently provide service to Marygrove in conjunction with the Detroit Police Department, with DPS officers responding from the Dearborn campus during the day and working on site overnight. The department plans to transition to round-the-clock coverage at Marygrove to provide consistent service and build essential relationships within the community. “As U-M expands our presence in Wayne County, there's a potential that we would support more areas as well,” notes Deputy Chief Paul Tennies. This could include the U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit which is expected to open in spring 2027.  

DPS’ primary focus, however, will remain the Dearborn campus and its affiliated programs. With funding from Ann Arbor to facilitate its expansion, “we're getting more service, more people, and without any impact to service or budget for our campus,” Tennies says.

With increased staff and responsibilities comes new equipment and upgraded technology. This includes advanced radio systems, computer-aided dispatching, and installation of physical security systems, like security cameras at Marygrove.

With many new faces in the department, Reporter chatted with three DPS employees who were recently hired or promoted about what led them to a career in law enforcement and why they chose to serve at ������-Dearborn. 

Deputy Chief Paul Tennies

Joining the ������-Dearborn Department of Public Safety in April 2024 as a captain — and recently promoted to deputy chief — Tennies brings with him more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement. While Tennies has spent the bulk of his career with Northville Township, retiring in 2021 from his role as the chief of police, his journey in law enforcement started right here at ������-Dearborn. While a student in the behavioral sciences program, Tennies got a campus job — and soon after a full time offer — as a security officer with Campus Safety. He transferred to Ann Arbor, working in hospital security and at the campus police department. He ended up leaving ������-Dearborn for a program that enabled him to get his associate’s degree and police certification simultaneously. 

After completing the police academy at Schoolcraft College, Tennies was hired by Northville Township in 2002. “Like most cops, I did a little bit of everything. I was a patrol officer, a field training instructor, investigator, undercover officer with the DEA and the state police, and then held leadership positions across the organization and retired as chief of police,” he says. 

In his day-to-day role with the department, Tennies serves as the operations commander responsible for “scheduling, hiring, personnel, issues, strategy, budget — kind of everything but the kitchen sink,” he says. DPS’ growth in recent years — not just in size but expectations — has brought both challenges and opportunities.

“The department is about 50 years old, starting as a security agency, and is moving into a full service law enforcement agency. That requires a lot of effort to make sure that we're in line with some of our other partners who have been doing police work for 75 to 100 years. We’re embracing that challenge, supporting our team to make sure that they have what they need to be successful,” says Tennies. “The benefit of working in a university environment is we typically have the ability to put the time and effort into situations that sometimes you don't get to in cities just based on volume. We're able to build relationships and work to find solutions with a lot of resources that the university has invested.”

Sergeant Sean Murphy

While Sergeant Sean Murphy has been with the Department of Public Safety for 10 years, his connection to campus goes back even further. A CASL alum, Murphy graduated with his bachelor’s in political science and criminal justice in 2013. After receiving his diploma, Murphy attended the police academy before joining the Canton Township Police Department. After about a year, Murphy came back to work on ������-Dearborn’s campus as a public safety officer. 

“I think because I went to school here as an undergrad, it's interesting to see how much has changed and how much has stayed the same since I was a freshman,” he says. “Seeing a lot of familiar faces that I've built relationships with since 2008 and seeing their journey is rewarding.”

Murphy earned his second diploma from ������-Dearborn in December after graduating with his master of public administration and policy. He was also recently promoted to sergeant. Building relationships with staff and students is something Murphy prioritizes in his role. 

“We recognize that sometimes people need help with things that aren't necessarily criminal or law related. I think that our officers really take the time to interact and help our campus community in ways that typically you don't think of a police officer doing,” says Murphy. “The way I think of it is something that could take us five minutes could completely change the course of someone's day and be the make or break of whether that person's having a good day or not. And I think that we have a really good group of officers who recognize that.”

Murphy emphasized, however, that he wants the campus community to feel comfortable engaging with him and other officers anytime — whether they need assistance or just want to chat. 

“It doesn't have to be someone having a bad day or a victim of a crime. We want to have the relationships where if you see us in the UC, you can stop and talk to us about non-police related matters like sports or whatever else is going on,” he says.

Public Safety Police Officer Quentin Maxey

From a young age, Quentin Maxey knew he wanted to be a police officer. “My mom will tell you and validate that, at a very early age, I always wanted to be a police officer, from dressing up in police costumes for Halloween and watching a lot of the old sitcoms of cops. This was my chosen profession from a very young age,” says Maxey. He also drew inspiration from his grandfather, Gilbert Maxey, the first African American police officer in Indianapolis. 

Maxey’s career began in 1995 at the Detroit Police Academy. After graduating, he rose through the ranks, working in various divisions including gaming, bicycle patrol and as a shift lieutenant in downtown Detroit. After retiring from the Detroit Police Department, Maxey joined the ������-Dearborn Department of Public Safety in September of 2024, bringing with him almost 30 years of law enforcement experience. 

For him, transitioning from the bustling streets of Detroit to the slower pace of the ������-Dearborn campus isn't a retirement job, but a fulfilling second career. Maxey says his favorite part of the job is being there to help — even with something as simple as a vehicle lockout or retrieving a left-behind item. 

“We had a student who lost his coat, and I was instrumental in helping him relocate it. His winter jacket had some pretty valuable items inside — obviously, his wallet, his personal ID – but he actually had his dad's house keys, who resides in the City of Cleveland. So to be able to unite the jacket with the student who called for our service was very rewarding,” says Maxey. 

DPS is available 24/7, 365

All three officers had the same message when it comes to safety on campus: If something doesn’t seem right, notify Public Safety right away. While people may hesitate to call because they do not want to be a bother, Tennies says it is the complete opposite. “We would much rather you call and it be nothing than not hear about something and not be able to support the community,” he insists.

Adds Murphy: “We're here, 24/7, 365. There's always someone here, no matter the day or the time, and our main focus is your safety. So if they ever need anything, reach out to us and have us assist.”

Story by Kathryn Bourlier. Photos by Annie Barker (Deputy Chief Tennies photo courtesy of Paul Tennies)