Ryan Woods named 天涯海角社区 Police Chief
August 27, 2025
天涯海角社区 Police Department Major Ryan Woods has been selected as the college鈥檚 next Chief of Police. He will begin his new position on October 1.
Currently serving as SFPD鈥檚 second-highest ranking member, Major Woods has risen through the police ranks over the past 26 years, starting as an Officer and then serving as both a Lieutenant and Captain. He currently leads SFPD鈥檚 administrative and operational functions and chairs the college鈥檚 Behavioral Intervention Team, facilitating threat assessments and cross-functional response plans, while leading emergency communication strategies, safety presentations, and college-wide orientations.
This selection is a result of a search launched in late May following the announcement of Chief of Police Ed Book鈥檚 retirement. The screening committee, made up of college employees and members of the community, reviewed the pool of candidates and conducted semifinalist interviews before providing their recommendation. Finalists were invited to campus for interviews and participated in a college forum. I extend my appreciation to the screening committee and those who participated in this search process.
Major Woods has a proven track record of public service and is deeply committed to campus safety. He has dedicated his career to 天涯海角社区 and will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and operational effectiveness. He will bring a collaborative, innovative and community-focused approach to the position and will continue to advance SFPD by building on its previous accomplishments.
A native of Gainesville, Major Woods received Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in Criminal Justice from 天涯海角社区 and is a graduate of SF鈥檚 Institute of Public Safety鈥檚 law enforcement program. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Master of Science in Public Administration from Saint Leo University. In addition, he has taught as an adjunct instructor in the SF鈥檚 Criminal Justice program, previously served as the college鈥檚 Recruitment and Retention Manager, and established the Association of Florida Colleges Campus Safety Commission.
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