Happy trails to Chief Griffin

After more than 33 years in law enforcement, including seven years at UC Irvine, Chief of Police Liz Griffin will retire at the end of the month.

Griffin joined UC Irvine in May 2019 following a 27-year career with the Long Beach Police Department. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, the LAPD West Point Leadership Program and the UC CORO Systemwide Leadership Collaborative, she brought extensive operational experience and a strong commitment to community-centered policing.

"Serving UC Irvine has been one of the greatest honors of my career," Griffin says. "I'm proud of the work we've done to build trust, strengthen transparency and support the safety of this campus community."

Under Griffin's leadership, the UC Irvine Police Department implemented a series of initiatives to strengthen safety while deepening accountability and engagement. Among them was the launch of a robust public safety dashboard, offering the campus community unprecedented access to data and setting a new standard for transparency across the UC system.

"Chief Griffin has been a driving force in modernizing how we think about campus safety," said Chancellor Howard Gillman. "Her leadership has not only strengthened UC Irvine but has influenced best practices across the entire University of California system."

Griffin also led the creation of a K9 unit serving both the campus and UC Irvine Health and expanding public safety capabilities while building meaningful connections with students, faculty and staff. Her emphasis on visibility and approachability helped reinforce a culture of trust between officers and the community they serve.

At a broader level, Griffin guided the implementation of the Community Safety Plan and played a key role in shaping systemwide policing policies, advancing consistency and shared standards across UC campuses.

Internally, she championed a tiered response program that aligns services more closely with community needs - an approach that emphasizes the right response at the right time while supporting continuous improvement within the department.

Those efforts contributed to national recognition. During Griffin's tenure, UCIPD earned accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, placing it among the top 10 percent of university police agencies nationwide.

Her impact also extended to advancing equity in law enforcement. Under her leadership, UCIPD embraced the national 30×30 Initiative, aimed at increasing the representation and improving the experiences of women in policing. The department nearly tripled its percentage of women officers - from 10 percent to 30 percent - reaching the initiative's goal in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.

"Chief Griffin's commitment to inclusion and excellence has set a lasting standard," said Mary Lou Ortiz, CFO and vice chancellor of Finance & Administration. "She has built a department that reflects the values of our campus and the community it serves."

As she prepares to step away from her role, Griffin reflects not just on milestones, but on people.

"This work has always been grounded in partnership and relationships," she says. "It's about showing up, listening and truly being part of the community we serve. I have full confidence that UCIPD will continue to build on these connections and forge a path of excellence in service, integrity, and community trust."