Chief Patrick Ogden is a 33-year veteran of law enforcement.  He was selected to lead the University of Delaware Police Department (UDPD) as Chief of Police in 2009. The department consists of 188 total personnel with an authorized strength of 54 sworn police officers, 10 (911 Center) dispatchers, 20 security officers, 4 administrative staff, 50 student cadets, and 50 student emergency medical technicians who staff the department’s Emergency Care Unit (UDECU). Chief Ogden developed and executed innovated crime reduction strategies and community policing initiatives to enhance safety and decrease Part I crime by nearly 60% over the past eleven years. The department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for advanced law enforcement and public safety communications. Ogden currently serves as chairman of the Delaware Police Chief’s Council (DPCC), president-elect for the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and North Atlantic regional vice-chair for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) University / College Police Section, as well as an appointed member of the firearms committee.

Before his appointment at the University of Delaware, Chief Ogden served for 22 years with the Delaware State Police, holding various assignments, including: officer in charge of the New Castle County Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU), troop commander, deputy commander of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), task force officer with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), detective and patrol Trooper.  He also spent 16 years assigned to the Special Operations Response Team. Chief Ogden was recognized for many accomplishments throughout his state police career to include an Excellence in Government Service Award, an Exceptional Performance Award, two Superintendent’s Citations, a Valor Award and a Co-Trooper of the Year award.

Chief Ogden earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wilmington College, attended the Northwestern University Traffic Institute School of Police Staff & Command, the DEA Drug Unit Commanders Academy, the United State Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police.

Chief Ogden is a lifelong Delaware resident, who resides in Wilmington with his wife Christine and their two daughters, Megan and Elizabeth.  His father and two of his five brothers were also career law enforcement officers.