Leadership Team

 
Police Chief Murphy

Gregory L. Murphy

Chief of Police
619-594-1137
[email protected]

With more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, Chief Gregory L. Murphy has held critical leadership positions focused on police operations, investigations and advocacy. 

After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Chief Murphy started his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). During his time at LAPD, he specialized in street gang enforcement and criminal gang activity suppression. Chief Murphy also made significant contributions to help establish the agency’s data warehouse for collecting, tracking and reporting use-of-force incidents, preventable collisions, community complaints and lawsuits.

Following his career at LAPD, Chief Murphy joined the University of California, Davis. He then became a regional manager for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) in Sacramento, where he trained and consulted over 200 California police agencies.

Chief Murphy returned to higher education uniformed public safety after working in managerial positions for POST. Throughout his career, Chief Murphy has served as chief of police across all three of California’s institutions of higher education: the California Community College, California State University and University of California systems. Most recently, he served as the Acting Chief of Police for the University of California, San Diego, where he has collaborated with the other nine UC campus police chiefs to implement elements of police reform within the UC System.

Chief Murphy believes that establishing strong community relationships and sustaining community dialogue are core pillars of policing within an organization. His philosophy is based on what he refers to as the six E’s of public safety: Environment, Engagement, Education, Enforcement, Empowerment, and Empathy. He is eager to join SDSU to continue enhancing public safety initiatives while cultivating a climate of service, care, and belonging.

Chief Murphy holds a master’s degree in information technology and a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He is an ongoing lecturer for the University of Virginia’s Master’s in Public Safety Program and the Sierra Community College District’s Administration of Justice Program. Chief Murphy's research includes studies on principled policing, police use of force and community policing.

Hank Turner

Hank Turner

Assistant Chief of Police
619-594-3877
[email protected]

Assistant Chief Hank Turner started his law enforcement career in 1992 as a deputy with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department (SDSD), where he rose to the rank of Commander. During his 30 years with the SDSD, he worked in a variety of assignments. He was a training officer, a detective, supervised the Sheriff’s Child Abuse Unit, supervised the San Diego Integrated Narcotics Task Force, and served as the department’s watch commander at the Communication Center, among many other assignments. 

Assistant Chief Turner began working at the San Diego State University Police Department (UPD) as a captain in May 2022 and became the Assistant Chief in January 2023. Assistant Chief Turner oversees the day-to-day operations of the police department’s patrol, investigations, special events, and operational support units.

Assistant Chief Turner has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute of Policing in Boston. He also completed the Harvard Law School Work and Labor Program. For over 20 years, Captain Turner volunteered as a camp counselor and director with a leadership program for at-risk and under-served high school students around San Diego County. He is also an instructor at the regional POST Sergeant School and the San Diego Regional Leadership Institute. 

As a firm believer in community policing, he enjoys working with community stakeholders to create a safe environment for everyone. He is an advocate for community service and has volunteered with various groups throughout his career. 

Assistant Chief Turner has lived in San Diego for over 50 years. He has been married to his wife for the last 31 years, and they have three daughters and four grandchildren.

Ruben Villegas

Ruben Villegas

Lieutenant - Investigations and Training
619-594-0959
[email protected]

Lieutenant Ruben Villegas was born and raised in the Los Angeles area.  After high school, he started his educational career at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA.  In 1995, he transferred to San Diego State University where he began working for the University Police Department (UPD) as a Public Safety Assistant, now known as Community Service Officers.

Lt. Villegas graduated from San Diego State University in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.  Soon after graduating, he was hired by UPD and sent to the academy. Lt. Villegas began his service with the department in 1998 as a patrol officer. He served as a field training officer, ABC task force officer, bike patrol officer, and acting supervisor. In 2008, he was promoted  to Sergeant.  He served as a patrol supervisor, watch commander, and bike patrol sergeant. Lt. Villegas was promoted to police lieutenant in 2018. As a police lieutenant, he oversees investigations and training. 

Lieutenant Villegas is a graduate of the POST Sherman Block Leadership Institute (Class 348).

Sean Sayre

Sean Sayre

Lieutenant - Patrol Division
619-594-2968
[email protected] 

Lieutenant Sean Sayre grew up in, and still resides in, the East County area of San Diego. After graduating high school, he attended Grossmont College and obtained his associate degree in criminal justice. During his time at Grossmont College, he attended their Reserve Police Academy and was appointed as a Reserve Police Officer by the El Cajon Police Department.  

After two years as a volunteer, the El Cajon Police Department appointed Lt. Sayre as a full-time police officer. During his 20 years with the El Cajon Police Department, Lt. Sayre served as a Communications Center Officer, School Resource Officer, Community Service Officer, Domestic Violence Detective, and Bike Officer. He was also a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team and a supervisor for the department’s Explorer Program.  

In 2019, Lt. Sayre joined the San Diego State University Police Department as an officer. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2020 and was assigned to assist with Special Event Planning in 2022. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2023 and currently supervises the Patrol Division.  

Eric Burris

Eric Burris

Lieutenant - Patrol Operations
619-594-0959
[email protected]

Lt. Eric Burris began his career with the San Diego State University Police Department (UPD) in 2013 as a Police Officer assigned to the patrol division. Lt. Burris had the privilege to serve as a Detective, Patrol Sergeant, and Administrative Sergeant before being promoted to Lieutenant in 2021 and being reassigned to the Patrol Division.

Lt. Burris earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Domestic Security Management from National University in 2011.

Chanin Harrison

Chanin Harrison

Associate Director of Police Support Services
619-594-6648
[email protected]

Chanin Harrison began her career with the San Diego State University Police Department (UPD) in 2003 as a student assistant in the Parking and Key Issue Office.  She quickly aspired to become a police dispatcher after hearing police radio traffic and witnessing the police dispatchers at work in the communications center.  Chanin was sworn in as a police dispatcher with the department in 2005.  She served as a tactical dispatcher, communications training officer, and lead dispatcher.

In 2011, Chanin transitioned into the position of executive assistant to the Chief of Police where she supported the Office of the Chief and fiscal operations of the department. Chanin was appointed to communications center and fiscal manager in 2015. Since then, she has been appointed to Associate Director of Police Support Services. 

Chanin received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from SDSU with a minor in women’s studies.

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Lisa Peumsang

Director of Emergency Management 
619-594-4414
[email protected]

Lisa Peumsang has worked and volunteered in emergency management and disaster response since 2015. As a volunteer with the City of Burbank’s Fire Corp, she supported the city’s fire department and community as a CERT instructor and Deputy Volunteer Coordinator. While continuing an extensive career in academic and student success consulting, Lisa interned with the City of Burbank Fire Department’s Emergency Management Division where she revamped the city’s emergency operations plan and revised the local hazard mitigation plan. During this time, she also co-developed a tabletop exercise for the Hollywood Burbank Airport in support of airport security and served as an evaluator for Universal Studios’ full-scale earthquake exercise. 

In 2017, Lisa became the Emergency Manager for CSUN under the Department of Police Services. While there, she updated the campus Emergency Operations Center training to align to best practices and application of curriculum from the California Specialized Training Institute of which she is a certified trainer for several courses including EOC Action Planning and Incident Command System/EOC Interface. Central to her time at CSUN was coordinating and maintaining their EOC activation of nearly two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and serving as the campus liaison to LA County to stand up and facilitate a five-month operation of a MEGA POD that delivered nearly a quarter of a million vaccines to the Los Angeles community. 

Prior to her career in emergency management, Lisa was an educational consultant and trainer for student success in California across K-12 and higher education for nearly two decades. Her training expertise was honed in developing and facilitating leadership, time management, and character education program training for students, educators, and administrators.

Lisa graduated from UCLA in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She is currently working on her dissertation on Natech Disasters toward a Doctorate in Public Administration and holds a Master of Science in Emergency Management with a specialization in Homeland Security from Walden University.  

She values public service and believes that through collaborative preparedness leaders and the community can effectively respond to, communicate with, and support one another in challenging times.