Just over a year after leaving New York University to become ETSU’s police chief, Nicole Collins has resigned. 

After a meeting with campus officials on Aug. 19, Collins tendered her resignation, effective Nov. 30. In her resignation letter, she cited concerns about a “cultural imbalance in the department,” and concerns about accreditation.

Nicole Collins

“Per our meeting this morning, I understand that the institution is no longer interested in pursuing national and international accreditation and a cultural imbalance in the department,” Collins wrote in a letter addressed to university Vice President Jeremy Ross. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve the ETSU community and Johnson City and retention of my title and benefits until I find another job or the effective date in this letter, depending upon which is sooner.”

Though it is still unclear why Collins resigned (neither ETSU nor Collins have spoken publicly on the reasoning), a LinkedIn account appearing to belong to Collins says she currently serves as an assessor on the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA.

The internationally recognized accreditation is only held by three universities in Tennessee – Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Middle Tennessee State University. WJHL reported that both the Johnson City Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office have the accreditation as well. 

ETSU does not have CALEA accreditation, but is accredited by the Tennessee Association of the Chiefs of Police. Accreditations are not required.

Collins, a military veteran, joined the university on July 1, 2018 after serving at NYU as their assistant vice president for the Department of Public Safety for just over a year. She previously served as an executive captain at Vanderbilt University from 2013-17. She replaced 40-year veteran Jack Cotrel, who served as ETSU’s chief law enforcement officer for 17 years. 

In a news conference after her hire in 2018, ETSU President Brian Noland said Collins would “provide the vision and direction to move the department and our campus forward in an ever-changing landscape of higher education.”

ETSU Captain Mark Tipton has assumed command over ETSU’s Department of Public Safety. 

Author

  • Jonathan Roberts

    Jonathan Roberts is a general-assignment reporter for the East Tennessean newspaper and is also a Co-Site Expert for FanSided’s A Royal Pain covering the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Formerly, he served as an editor for Rotoden.com covering the NBA. A full-time student at East Tennessee State University and native of Miami, FL, Jonathan has been writing since 2014 when he covered high school sports for Casa Roble High School.

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