Joe LeMire's five years of service to the university have been highlighted by a string of achievements and initiatives to help promote safety across the community. He concludes his tenure on April 3, 2026.
Elon University Chief of Police Joe LeMire has announced his plans to retire from law enforcement service as of April 3, 2026, following a five-year career on campus that has been praised by campus leaders.
In a message to the Elon University community announcing LeMire’s decision, Vice President for Business and Finance Janet Williams shared how she “will very much miss Joe’s depth of knowledge and his dedication to campus safety” and that his success as a chief “centers on building trust and collaboration with student organizations and enhancing relationships and safety understanding with faculty and staff.”
As a member of the Finance and Administration leadership team, LeMire has led a department of 21 certified police officers, a dispatch center that provides 24-hour dispatching services, and a team of community service officers who assist with parking enforcement and building and environmental security on campus.
Since arriving on campus in March 2021, his achievements include restaffing the department with certified police officers, building up community policing, advocating for the increased use of security cameras, launching an upgraded E-Alert system, achieving reaccreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and earning accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
A national search will soon be launched to identify Elon University’s next Chief of Police. Following LeMire’s departure in April, and until a successor is named, responsibilities for Elon University Campus Safety and Police will be managed by Interim Chief of Police Doug Dotson, who has loyally served the university for 30 years.