Ohio State’s assistant vice president and director of the Department of Public Safety is set to work his last day this Friday, Acting Police Chief Craig Stone said on Tuesday night at the Undergraduate Student Government’s safety town hall meeting.

Vernon Baisden, who joined the OSU community in August 2000, is expected to retire this week. The university confirmed that he will officially retire on Friday.

USG’s town hall addressed current issues revolving around student safety. Stone, a panelist at the event, spoke about Baisden’s retirement before the panel began.

“I just wanted to bring something to your attention: Vernon Baisden has been with the university over 15 years and his last day will be this Friday,” Stone said. “He has been dedicated to the mission of keeping the campus community safe.”

Craig asked the crowd to give Baisden a standing ovation before the event proceeded.

Baisden, who Stone said was first hired to organize the Department of Public Safety, was director of the Department of Campus Safety at Keene State College for seven years before coming to OSU. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Michigan’s Department of Public Safety.

Baisden has worked in public safety for more than 30 years.