It takes a lot of support and a lot of people to believe in you and trust you. The community and department mean a lot to me.
When newly named Police Chief Glen Anderson discusses his accomplishments, he is quick to pass the praise along to his staff.
“It takes a lot of support and a lot of people to believe in you and trust you,” said Anderson, who was recently sworn in following the retirement of longtime Chief David Tillinghast. “The community and department mean a lot to me.”
Anderson’s steady leadership has nevertheless already left its mark. He arrived at Bridgewater State in 1998 as a lieutenant and ascended through the ranks. Over the years, he contributed to numerous pioneering initiatives, including the launching of a police canine program and placing defibrillators and the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan across campus. During his tenure, BSU was named the third safest campus in America.
Anderson previously worked in the limousine industry, where he frequently collaborated with law enforcement agencies while his company transported entertainers and heads of state. That experience sparked his interest in becoming a police officer.
Anderson served at Emanuel College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design before coming to Bridgewater, a university that stood out for its accomplishments in policing and other areas. Working at BSU, he said, is a special opportunity.
“It’s the sense of community,” Anderson said. “It’s really rewarding to see students come in as young adults and leave as mature adults. And to help them along on that journey is pretty rewarding.”
Anderson is proud of his department’s emphasis on community policing. While many agencies have a community policing officer, everyone at Bridgewater focuses on building positive relationships with the people they serve.
“It’s not one person,” he said. “It’s really a way of doing business for us.”
Anderson appreciates Tillinghast’s mentorship, as well as the support of President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83. They, along with deputy chiefs Michael Froio and Ryan Tepper, provided seamless leadership while he recovered from a double-lung transplant.
The president said he has no doubt that Anderson is the ideal successor to Tillinghast.
“Glen Anderson is one of the finest men I know,” Clark said, adding: “Under Glen’s leadership, BSUPD will continue to build upon the exceptionally strong foundation established by Chief Tillinghast in the areas of mental health, community policing, and in advancing social justice on this campus.”
Anderson looks forward to enhancing the many initiatives that make a tangible difference on campus. While a change in chiefs marks a new era, the team-first attitude that has helped the department succeed will remain a hallmark of Anderson’s leadership.
“I’m very, very honored,” he said of being sworn in as chief. “It means a lot to me. It really is in my view as much about our team as it is me.”
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