TU Police Chief Bernard Gerst to retire

By Sean Welsh on June 22, 2018

Towson University Chief of Police Bernard J. Gerst will retire after 17 years at his alma mater, effective July 1, 2018.

Gerst announced his retirement to the rank and file on Thursday. His final day in uniform will be June 29.

In Gerst’s time at TU, the campus became known as not only one of the safest in the University System of Maryland, but also one of the safest in the nation.

The National Council for Home Safety and Security included Towson University on its list of 2018’s Safest College Campuses in the U.S. TU is the only Maryland higher education institution ranked in the top 100.

TUPD has received the Governor’s Crime Prevention Award for more than 30 consecutive years. In addition, during Chief Gerst’s tenure, TUPD became the first police department in Maryland to receive accreditation from both the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Agencies (IACLEA) and the Commission on the Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

A search for the next chief will commence this fall. Deputy Chief of Police Joe Herring, a veteran of TU’s Office of Public Safety, will serve as the Interim Chief of Police.

Chief Gerst came to Towson University in January 2001 after a distinguished career with the Baltimore County Police Department.

He began his career in 1978 as a cadet and was first assigned to the Essex Precinct. After being promoted to sergeant and later colonel, Chief Gerst was tapped to head the department’s Operations Bureau in 1997.

He retired in 2000 and shortly thereafter took the position heading the Office of Public Safety at Towson University.