Jason Ellis
Police Chief

Ellis is a 1998 graduate of ACU and also holds a master’s degree in dispute resolution from Southern Methodist University. He joined ACU in 2021 after 23 years with the Frisco Police Department, more than 16 of those years in management and leadership roles. He previously served as supervisor of the School Resource Officer program for Frisco ISD, led the crisis negotiations team for several years and implemented a new peer support program for the police department.

Email: jason.ellis@acu.edu

Bucky Wright
Lieutenant

Wright joined the ACU Police Department in March 2020 after 20 years in the San Diego, California, area. He has 22 years of law enforcement experience as a forensic specialist, police officer and detective working homicide, narcotics and gangs. He was also a sergeant and member of the peer support team.

Email: bucky.wright@acu.edu

Teri Tilly
Office Manager

Tilly has been with ACU since 2009. She oversees the functioning of the police department office, including parking enforcement, student workers and dispatching of ACU police officers. She monitors Abilene Police Department radio traffic in the university’s immediate area for possible assistance from ACU police. The chief likes to refer to Teri as the “real boss” of the department.

Email: teri.tilly@acu.edu

Thomas Valdez
Sergeant

Valdez joined ACUPD  in 2008 after retiring from the Abilene Police Department where he served for 25 years.  His last ten years with APD was a detective in the criminal investigations division/Crimes against Children. Valdez was instrumental in developing the criminal investigations division here at ACUPD and still assists with investigations here at ACU.

Email: thomas.valdez@acu.edu

Tim Schmidt
Sergeant

Schmidt joined ACUPD in 2020 after a 33-year career with the Abilene Police Department. His experience includes working as a patrol officer, a field training officer, a fatality accident investigator, a patrol sergeant, a crime scene unit sergeant, a SWAT operator and medic, and an EMT. Sgt. Schmidt has a master’s degree and graduate certificate in conflict resolution, both from ACU.

Email: tim.schmidt@acu.edu

Chad LaPrelle
Sergeant

Compliance/Emergency Management

LaPrelle joined ACU PD in 2023 after retiring from the Frisco Police Department. He has served in multiple roles during his police career including patrol officer, community services officer, bilingual public information officer, crime prevention specialist, court security  specialist, drone pilot and patrol sergeant.

Andra Gibson
Police Officer

Officer Gibson joined ACUPD in 2015. He holds a Master Peace Officer certification and has worked in law enforcement since 2002. He is formally trained in Crisis Negotiation, Crisis Intervention, Peer Support and Chaplaincy.  He currently serves as the chaplain for ACUPD. 

Email: andra.gibson@acu.edu

Brian Black
Police Officer

CCTV Systems Manager

Black joined ACUPD in 2016 and is a Master Peace Officer with 17 years of law enforcement experience, including work with the Hardin-Simmons University Police Department, Clyde Police Department and Taylor County Sheriff’s Department.

Email: brian.black@acu.edu

Stephan McNally
Police Officer

McNally joined ACUPD in 2016 and has served in law enforcement in for almost 40 years.  He has worked in the University environment for 18 years.  He started his law enforcement career at Taylor County Sheriff’s Department and also worked at Merkel PD and Hardin Simmons University.

Email: stephan.mcnally@acu.edu

Michael R. Janusz
Police Officer

Janusz joined the ACU Police Department in 2018 after 30-plus years with the Abilene Police Department. A former U.S. Marine, he earned two degrees from Abilene Christian University: a B.A.S. in 1994 and an M.S. in 1998.

Email: michael.janusz@acu.edu

Ray Hernandez
Police Officer

Hernandez joined ACUPD in 2018.  He previously worked for Taylor County Sheriff’s department for 17 years.

Email: ray.hernandez@acu.edu

Matthew Fox
Detective

Fox joined ACUPD in 2022 after leaving Parker County SO, where he was a sexual assault investigator.  Fox has a bachelor’s degree in government security management and he is an army veteran of the global war on terror.  He has been in law enforcement since 2012 at both local and federal levels.  During his career, Fox has served many roles including drug enforcement and interdiction in California and Rocky Mountain states to working patrol in south Dallas for Dallas PD.

Chad Bristow
Police Officer

Allen Speed
Police Officer

Prior to Officer Speed joining the ACUPD in 2023, he had already served a distinguished career. He worked as a K-9 instructor and a bomb dog handler protecting two Presidents and two Vice Presidents, while serving in the US Air Force.  Later, assigned to Dyess AFB as a Special Agent, he worked as a Counterintelligence Chief during 9-11, before retiring in 2007 as a Superintendent. Allen also worked Narcotics for 5 years for the US Customs Service.

After 25 years as a Fort Worth Police (FWPD) Officer, Allen again retired in 2020 as the President of the Fort Worth Police Athletic League.  Additionally, he has been active in Crime Prevention , served as President of the Texas Citizens , and First Vice President of the Texas Crime Prevention Association. He is also active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Jason Ortolano
Public Service Officer

Fritter

Lovable K-9

Fritter has 28 (dog) years of service, chasing down hugs and capturing smiles. Fritter holds special expertise in serving the ACU community with his innate ability to make everyone’s day better.  Fritter joined ACUPD in 2019 and has garnered worldwide recognition for the department since day one. Be sure to follow him on his Instagram account!

Bob Delony
Reserve Officer

Bob Delony is a reserve officer with ACUPD with more than 45 years experience as a Texas peace officer. He spent 14 years working full-time with ACUPD before joining the faculty of the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. Prior to coming to ACU, he was a detective/sergeant for the Houston Police Department, specializing in homicide, sex crimes, special thefts and internal affairs. He is trained as a hostage negotiator and was team leader and trainer for Houston PD.

Email: bob.delony@acu.edu

Randy Motz
Reserve Officer

Randy Motz joined ACUPD in 2012 and retired as a Lieutenant in 2021.  He now serves as a reserve officer for the department.  Motz served as acting chief during his time with ACUPD. A certified Master Peace Officer, he has 35 years total law enforcement experience, including his nine years with ACUPD and 26 years with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. He also spent 30 years serving as a U.S. Marine and retired as a corps sergeant major.

Email: randy.motz@acu.edu

Josh Davis
Reserve Officer