Robin Griffin-Kitzerow, a law enforcement leader with more than three decades of experience, has been named the next Chief of the UCF Police Department, effective July 4.
Carl Metzger ’03MS, who has served as chief since 2018, will remain the associate vice president of public safety, overseeing the university’s broader safety portfolio, including UCF Police, Victim Services, Emergency Management and the Department of Security.
With safety a top priority for UCF, President Alexander N. Cartwright says these key transitions will further enhance our unwavering commitment to security and well-being across UCF’s campuses.
“Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow is a proven leader whose compassion, expertise and proactive approach to campus safety have earned the trust of our community,” Cartwright says. “As she steps into this critical role, and as her fantastic predecessor, Chief Metzger, continues to provide strategic oversight and vision, we are well-positioned to continue our efforts to provide a safe, welcoming environment for our students, faculty, employees and visitors.”
Griffin-Kitzerow expresses her gratitude and appreciation to the Public Safety family and university community.
“I am thrilled to serve as the UCF Police Department’s next chief of police,” Griffin-Kitzerow says. “This role comes with a legacy of excellence built by an incredible team of sworn law enforcement officers and support staff, and I am committed to leading as we continue our important mission to keep UCF a safe, secure environment for all.”
That legacy includes the steady leadership of Metzger, who will continue serving UCF in a strategic role focused on public safety across the university.
“Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow is an exceptional leader whose vision, integrity and dedication will serve UCFPD well. I look forward to continuing to work alongside her to build an even stronger, safer future for our university,” Chief Metzger says. “I remain deeply committed to advancing strategic public safety initiatives across our campuses and working with the talented leaders, officers, and employees across UCF Public Safety.”
Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow: A Dedicated Public Servant
Since joining UCFPD as deputy chief in 2022, Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow has been a driving force behind transformative initiatives in crisis response, threat management and officer development.
With a career spanning more than three decades in public safety and education, Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow brings a unique blend of law enforcement practice and psychological expertise. She recently earned a doctoral degree in forensic psychology, adding to her already impressive academic credentials, which include two master’s degrees — one in psychology, one in public administration and another in forensic psychology — and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management.
Before coming to UCF, she served as deputy chief at Florida Atlantic University Police Department and spent 20 years in leadership roles with the Palm Beach County School District.
In 2018, Griffin-Kitzerow led a juvenile rehabilitation effort in Palm Beach County. In response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the same year, she developed a proactive strategy to identify and manage potential threats before they could escalate. This vision led to the creation of a multi-disciplinary investigations division focused on threat assessment and intervention.
She brought that same approach to UCFPD, where she has worked to support and enhance the Threat Management Team into a comprehensive unit of detectives, an intelligence analyst and a mental health clinician that works collaboratively to monitor individuals of concern.
Her expertise and leadership has not gone unnoticed outside the university. Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow was recently elected president of the Central Florida Criminal Justice Association and serves on the boards of Central Florida Cares and the Central Florida Intelligence Exchange. She is also a sought-after speaker on threat mitigation strategies, frequently presenting to school districts and public safety panels across the country.
Beyond safety, she is also passionate about shaping the future of law enforcement. She has spearheaded UCFPD’s recruitment efforts, launching Explorer and cadet programs that tap into the university’s talent pool of criminal justice majors. The department also sponsored qualified graduates to attend the law enforcement academy, creating a direct pipeline from classroom to career.
As she steps into her new role, Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow becomes UCF’s first-ever “Dr. Chief” — a title that reflects both her subject matter expertise and her unwavering dedication to public service.
Chief Carl Metzger: A Legacy of Leadership
As he transitions from his role as chief of police to continue serving as associate vice president (AVP) for public safety, Metzger carries forward a legacy of steady leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to the UCF community.
Chief Metzger, who will continue to provide oversight to Public Safety’s more than 130 sworn and civilian personnel across UCF Police, Victim Services, Emergency Management and the Department of Security, has been at the helm during some of the university’s most transformative years. Since beginning his tenure as chief in 2018, Metzger has demonstrated calm, capable leadership — overseeing public safety responses to numerous hurricanes, managing the logistics of high-profile events like ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, and guiding UCF through its expansion into the Big 12 Conference, which significantly increased the complexity of game day operations.
Before joining UCFPD as deputy chief in 2014, Chief Metzger spent 26 years with the Orlando Police Department, rising through the ranks and serving in patrol, administrative services and special operations.
Upon becoming Chief, Metzger established key priorities for the department, including enhanced active threat response and expanded mental health resources for both the community and officers. He also managed a budget of approximately $15 million annually.
While UCFPD officers already received the state-mandated active threat training, Chief Metzger pushed for more immersive, realistic preparation. Under his leadership, officers began participating in annual simulations that include the sights, sounds and even smells of real-life crisis scenarios — something he says is critical for officers to practice until it becomes second-nature.
He also oversaw significant upgrades to campus security infrastructure, including the installation of additional cameras and access control systems. Today, most campus buildings can be locked down instantly at the push of a button.
Chief Metzger shares Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow’s belief in preventing violence before it occurs. Under his leadership, UCFPD became the first law enforcement agency in Central Florida to achieve 100% crisis intervention training (CIT) for its sworn officers. This training equips officers to respond compassionately and effectively to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
He also championed suicide prevention efforts, frequently hosting QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training sessions for both law enforcement and the broader community. His initiatives included wearing green patches during Mental Health Awareness Month, wrapping a police cruiser in green, participating in NAMI’s annual 5K and organizing a campus walk that raised over $15,000 for suicide prevention.
Collaboration remains a cornerstone of Chief Metzger’s leadership and role as AVP. He worked closely with the Orlando Police Department and other local agencies to launch a regional emergency response team trained in crowd control and bicycle response tactics. When UCF expanded to its downtown campus, he helped establish a regional patrol division to oversee UCF Downtown, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the College of Medicine in Lake Nona.
With decades of experience and a network of strong law enforcement partnerships, Chief Metzger is well-positioned to continue shaping public safety at UCF in his ongoing role as AVP. His legacy is one of innovation, compassion and a deep commitment to the safety and well-being of the UCF community.
What’s Next for Public Safety
Incoming Chief Griffin-Kitzerow will be formally sworn in later this summer. Until then, she will continue working alongside colleagues and community partners to ensure a smooth transition focused on maintaining the safety and well-being of the campus and surrounding community.
