University Police

Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police Rodney J. Theis joined The University of Toledo Police Department in 1998.  Chief Theis earned his peace officer certification from CJ Tech in Toledo. Prior to becoming a UToledo police officer, Chief Theis was a student worker for the UTPD.  He earned an associate's degree in Law Enforcement Technology from UToledo in 1996 and a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from UToledo in 1998. In 2008 he graduated from the Penn State Police Executive program and also attended the inaugural class of the UToledo Leadership Development program in 2011. In 2014 Chief Theis received his master’s degree from UToledo in Education with a focus on Higher Education Administration.  In 2019 he graduated as a member of Class #23 from the distinguished C.L.E.E. program (Certified Law Enforcement Executive).  Chief Theis served as a patrol officer from 1998 until his promotion to Lieutenant in 2007.  In 2011 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief.  In 2019 he was named as the Assistant Director of Public Safety/Deputy Chief of Police, providing leadership in other areas within public safety. In 2022 Chief Theis was promoted to Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police before his most recent promotion to Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police in December of 2023.

Theis served as a key role in the integration of public safety operations following the 2006 merger of the University of Toledo and the Medical University of Ohio. He was also integral to the creation of the Public Safety Center opening in 2020, home to the UT Police Department and Toledo Post for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  Since his promotion to Chief, Theis has placed a focus on leveraging technology to create efficiencies and a more safe and secure campus community.  In late 2023, the police department  completed a large project focused on the implementation of an automatic license plate reader system that creates a virtual perimeter around it's main and health science campuses.  Previous phases of the project included installing new in-car cameras that integrate into the new ALPR system.

Associate Vice President of Public Safety Theis leads approximately 75 employees from police, hospital security, and environmental health and radiation safety who make up the Office of Public Safety with an overall budget of over 7 million dollars.  AVP Theis also has responsibility for the numerous external law enforcement, emergency medical services employees and external contract security employees who supplement the university's full time employees and works to help secure special events on the campuses and operations at the University of Toledo Medical Center.

Deputy Chief John Lautzenheiser has served the police department since 1996. DC Lautzenheiser earned his Associates Degree in Law Enforcement and Peace Officer certification from Lima Technical College. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Administrative Services and his Master of Education from the University of Toledo. DC Lautzenheiser graduated from the Certified Law Enforcement Executive (CLEE) course-Class #27, in 2023. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Sergeant and Lieutenant before being promoted to Deputy Chief. DC Lautzenheiser serves on several committees, both on and off campus, and is responsible for developing and implementing safety and security measures at all home University of Toledo athletic events. In 2023, he was named the Director of Campus Safety/Deputy Chief of Police.  He directly supervises Staff Lieutenant Charlie Williams, Field Operations Lieutenant Dan Protsman, and Administrative Lieutenant Nate Pool.

Staff Lieutenant Williams has been a member of The University of Toledo Police Department since 1997. Prior to joining the University of Toledo Police Department, Lt. Williams worked for the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office in the Communications Section from 1994 to 1997. Lt. Williams received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from UToledo in 1994. Lt. Williams served as a patrol officer from 1997 until being promoted to Lieutenant in 2007. He graduated from the Penn State Police Executive Development Program (POLEX) in 2008. The Police Executive Development (POLEX) program is a comprehensive 10-day training course designed to equip new and experienced police commanders with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles.  Staff Lieutenant Williams has been a member of several task forces throughout his career and helped to establish the Lucas County OVI Task Force as one of the best in the State.  In 2011 he entered a ten month Leadership Program and received a UT Leadership Certificate from the UT College of Business and Innovation Executive Center for Global Competitiveness.  After serving as a lieutenant in Field Operations, Lt. Williams was moved to the Administrative Lieutenant position in 2018.  In 2022 he was promoted to his current rank of Staff Lieutenant. In 2024 Staff Lieutenant Williams and Administrative Lieutenant Pool worked to make the University of Toledo Police Department one of the first 10 agencies, and the only university police agency, to receive State of Ohio Accreditation through the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

Lt. Pool has been serving the University of Toledo since 2001. In 2000, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Toledo and his Ohio peace officer certification from the Toledo Police Academy, 54th basic class, in 2002. In 2021 he completed his Master's of Studies in Law (M.L.W.) from UToledo.  Lt. Pool was promoted to Sergeant in 2012, and in 2022 he was promoted to his current rank of Administrative Lieutenant. While serving in his current role Administrative Lieutenant has worked to implement new state of the art management systems through PowerDMS technologies.  This allows officers on the department to have daily resources at tip of their fingers.  Administrative Lieutanant Pool was instrumental in developing the departments Field Training Program and has implemented the PowerDMS technologies as part of the program to track required tasks, evaluations, mangers reports, and eventually promotional documentation from the program.  In 2025, he graduated as a member of class #30 of the distinguished Certified Law Enforcement Executive (C.L.E.E) program.  He and Staff Lieutenant Williams worked to achieve Accreditation, for the department, as one of the initial 10 agencies in the state to reach the honor.

Lt. Protsman has served the police department since 2002. Lt. Protsman earned his peace officer certification from Henry County Police Academy 2002. In 2000 he received his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. from Tri State University. Lt. Protsman served as a patrol officer from 2002 until he was promoted to Sergeant in 2011. In 2022 he was promoted to his current rank of Lieutenant.