Erika Taylor has been named chief of University Police. She has served as interim chief since March 2023.
The appointment, effective Feb. 15, was announced by Eric Smith, senior vice president for Finance and Administration.
“Chief Taylor is a thoughtful, experienced law enforcement professional who has a deep commitment to Upstate and the greater community,” said Smith. “I am pleased that she will continue to serve our campus and its many stakeholders as she leads our dedicated team of law enforcement officers.”
As chief of University Police, Taylor oversees a staff of more than 40 employees, including 22 police officers, and more than 100 contract security personnel.
Taylor, who has more than 12 years of experience in law enforcement, joined Upstate in 2012. In 2022, she was promoted to assistant chief of University Police before being appointed interim chief in March 2023.
Taylor has multiple certifications and training in all areas of law enforcement, including law enforcement ethics, critical incident management, and fair and impartial policing. She is a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute, a Central New York Regional Representative for the New York Women in Law Enforcement Organization and is currently pursuing a FBI LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association) trilogy certification.
Taylor has received the Excellence in Service Award and the President’s Employee Recognition Award for Campus Team of the Year.
Taylor holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice and a bachelor of technology degree in law enforcement leadership from SUNY Canton. Taylor is a 2012 graduate of the Black River/St. Lawrence Valley Police Academy.
Taylor previously worked for the St. Lawrence County Office of Emergency Services. She resides in Baldwinsville.