Chief Matthew Carmichael's philosophy on community outreach is that a significant part of policing involves knowing and serving the community. He believes that trust and familiarity are key to a successful mission. Throughout his career, he has implemented various initiatives to connect the police department more closely with students and the wider campus community.
Some of Chief Matt's community outreach efforts and programs include:
- Student Engagement: Creating and expanding programs for students, and an outreach unit focused on students, including those from underrepresented groups and international students.
- Accessible Interactions: To make officers and the department more approachable, Chief Matt has fully embraced the presence of UPD on campus during events like “Donut Day”, "Tailgate with the Chief", and his monthly “Chat with Chief Matt” live events.
- Training and Policy: Chief Matt has initiated a top-to-bottom review of police departments, incorporating input from students and campus partners on policy.
- External Partnerships: Chief Matt has actively engaged with law enforcement agencies throughout Hays County to address public safety challenges. Additionally, he brought the "Leave No Victim Behind" conference series to Texas State University, a program that provides law enforcement and community members with best practices for supporting victims and communities in the aftermath of tragic events.
Upcoming Chat Matt Events
- Chat with Chief Matt - August 20, 2025 @ 6pm
- Tailgate with the Chief - August 30, 2025
- September Campus Safety Committee - September 2, 2025 @4:30pm
- Tailgate with the Chief - September 20, 2025
- International Affairs Fall Kickoff Event - September 29, 2025 @4pm in the LBJ Grand Ballroom
