Sam Preston has been named Interim Director of Public Safety at the University of Southern Indiana, effective January 6. Preston will serve as Interim Director following the retirement of Steve Bequette, who has served 15 years with USI Public Safety, with six of those years as Director. He previously served 34 years with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.
In this role, Preston will be responsible for the security and safety of a diverse community of students, employees and visitors at USI. He will be the primary point of contact and liaison between USI, external law enforcement agencies (local, state, and federal) and emergency response organizations.
Prior to this appointment, Preston served as Assistant Director of Public Safety since May 2018. He is a 26-year veteran (retired) of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. Preston is a 2016 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a certified Master Instructor by the State of Indiana, a peer support and suicide prevention instructor and has experience in crisis negotiation.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and a master’s degree from Indiana State University.
A search for the new Director of Public Safety is expected to be completed in Spring 2024.
