Daniel Hect Appointed Chief of Police for Smith and Mount Holyoke

Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges have announced the appointment of Daniel Hect as the new chief of the campuses’ shared police department.

Hect’s appointment is effective February 18, 2019. He succeeds interim chief Raymond LaBarre.

Hect, who served most recently as the director of public safety and chief of police at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a strong background in emergency management and community policing, as well as a commitment to leading a diverse campus police force. Hect also served as the director of campus safety and chief of police at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

“This is a great opportunity,” said Hect. “I am looking forward to working with both Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges to improve community policing efforts through engagement and ensuring the department becomes more visible and accessible.”

Hect’s first priorities will include developing a culture of community engagement, with a focus on community policing; implementing ongoing emergency management policies; and ensuring consistency throughout the department’s practices.