Mount Pleasant Director of Public Safety William Yeagley was chosen as Central Michigan University’s next police chief following a national search.

Yeagley said he is both excited and humbled by the decision.

“It’s an outstanding organization,” he said. “It’s a weight on my shoulders, but I have great excitement.”

He said he hopes to help continue to move the department forward professionally and reach the goal of becoming one of the best college police departments in the nation.

Yeagley has 31 years of experience in law enforcement. He has spent the majority of his career with the Mount Pleasant Police Department, where he has served as the director of public safety for 10 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University and graduated from the FBI academy in Quantico, Va.

Upon assuming his duties, Yeagley said he will analyze what is currently being done at the department. Before he makes any changes or implements new policies, he will speak to employees and interact with students and faculty for their perspectives.

Yeagley said over his 30-year career, he learned that leaders must include others in the decision making process.

“Every person has value, treating everyone well is very important to me,” he said.

Vice president of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette said in a press release that he is pleased that Yeagley agreed to make the move to CMU.

“He brings a vast amount of law enforcement experience, but even more than that, he brings a positive can-do spirit, a cooperative philosophy of public safety for our broader Mount Pleasant community, and a demonstrated respect for all individuals,” he said in the release.

Yeagley was also chosen for his experience working in the Mount Pleasant community and with the university, said John Fisher, associate vice president of Residences and Auxiliary Services and search committee chairman.

Yeagler was selected over CMU Police Capt. Fred Harris and Kevin Williams, senior campus security planner for the University of Oregon.

Yeagley’s annual salary will be $105,000 and a $5,000 retention bonus. He will begin Aug. 17 for a two- week transition period before current police chief Stan Dinius retires Aug. 31, Fisher said.

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E-mail the author: Lindsay Knake