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Thomas E. Atkinson Jr., a former United States Secret Service supervisor for President Bill Clinton and most recently director of security and public safety for Boston’s Tufts Medical Center, has been named associate director of public safety and deputy chief of police at Boston College.
Atkinson, who holds degrees in criminal justice from St. Anselm’s College and Northeastern University, has an extensive background in law enforcement and public safety. In addition to coordinating all aspects of domestic and overseas security for President Clinton’s Secret Service detail from 1992-2002, he has been a criminal investigator for the US Coast Guard Investigative Service; director of worldwide corporate security for the Polaroid Corp.; and for the past five years has served as chief safety and security administrator for the 5,000-employee Tufts Medical Center campus.
"I am pleased that Tom has joined our team,” said Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police John King. “His education, training and experience, coupled with his commitment to public safety and community policing, made him an outstanding candidate for this position. As Tom becomes acclimated to the BC community, he will gradually take on various responsibilities overseeing our Bureau of Community Policing and Patrol Operations.”
Atkinson, who began his duties at BC recently, said he was grateful for the “warm welcome and reception” he has received from the University community. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring my work experiences and training of the past 27 years to the department. Everyone is excited and motivated to move the department forward and strengthen the community policing and public safety programs for the Boston College community.”