Leadership Team
Carl Metzger
Associate Vice President for Public Safety
Bio
Carl Metzger is a public safety leader with 36 years of law enforcement experience in Central Florida, most recently as the Chief of Police for the UCF Police Department. In his current role as Associate Vice President for Public Safety, he oversees more than 130 sworn and civilian Police, Victim Services, Emergency Management, and Department of Security employees.
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. Additionally, Metzger focused UCF Public Safety on improving the agency’s mental health response, and the UCF Police Department became the first 100% Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained agency in Central Florida. Metzger also helped found the agency’s Threat Management Team, which has become a model for other universities. Metzger’s stated goal was to make the UCF Police Department the most professional and innovative campus police department in the country, and his efforts inarguably moved the agency close to that goal.
Before joining UCF, Metzger spent 26 years with the Orlando Police Department, working throughout the patrol, administrative services and special operations divisions while also rising in the ranks. Highlights of his time with OPD include overseeing security and traffic control operations at the Amway (now KIA) Center during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game and leading the Emergency Response Team’s crowd control efforts at the Republic National Convention in Tampa in 2012. He joined UCFPD as a deputy chief in 2014 before being promoted to chief in 2018.
Metzger is a member of the Orange Osceola County Police Chiefs Association, where he served four years as President, the Central Florida Criminal Justice Association, the Florida Police Chief’s Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Orlando, the Central Florida CIT Advisory Council, the UCF Criminal Justice Advisory Council, and is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Wellness, and Sustainability. Metzger is a certified suicide prevention instructor, and he teaches CIT/suicide prevention to the agencies in Orange County.
Metzger has been recognized with numerous awards during his career, but recently he was recognized with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), UCF Criminal Justice Distinguished Alumnus of the Year (2022), and the Mental Health Association Community Hero Award (2025).
Metzger earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in criminal justice from UCF. He is a graduate of the Drug Enforcement Administration Narcotic Commander’s Course, the Southern Police Institute’s 39th Command Officers Development Course, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Course.
Metzger is a dedicated husband of 36 years and a devoted father. An avid runner and biker, he has completed 20 marathons, 220+ half-marathons and numerous century (100-mile) bike rides, including three 250-mile Police Unity Tours, helping to raise over $35,000 for the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC.
Dr. Robin Griffin-Kitzerow
Chief of Police
Bio
With over three decades of experience, Chief Robin Griffin-Kitzerow brings a powerful combination of law enforcement leadership and psychological insight into her new role.
She recently earned her doctoral degree in forensic psychology, adding to an already impressive academic portfolio that includes three master’s degrees — in psychology, public administration, and forensic psychology — as well as a bachelor’s degree in organizational management.
Before joining UCF, Chief Griffin-Kitzerow served as deputy chief at Florida Atlantic University and spent two decades in leadership with the Palm Beach County School District, where she developed a proactive strategy to identify and manage potential threats before they could escalate. She later used this same strategy to support and enhance UCF’s already robust Threat Management Team when she joined the agency as deputy chief in 2022.
Her leadership extends beyond campus. She 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 makes history as UCF’s first-ever “Dr. Chief” — a title that reflects not only her academic excellence but also her unwavering dedication to service, safety, and the next generation of public safety leaders.
Scott Freeman
Deputy Chief of Police
Bio
Scott Freeman is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over 20 years of dedicated service at the University of Central Florida Police Department (UCFPD), including a decade in specialized investigative units. He currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Police, overseeing all operations within both the Administration and Operations Bureaus.
Freeman began his career at UCFPD in 2005 as a civilian community service officer. After being sponsored by the department to attend the police academy, he was sworn in as an officer upon graduation. His career has been marked by steady advancement through the ranks — from patrol officer to deputy chief — with notable assignments including four years on the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation Task Force.
Throughout his tenure, Freeman has played a pivotal role in enhancing the department’s capabilities. He served as the agency’s Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator and was instrumental in establishing UCFPD’s Special Response Team, a unit trained for high-risk rescue operations during mass casualty incidents.
Most recently, Freeman held the position of Major over the Operations Bureau, where he managed police operations for the main and regional patrol divisions, the Criminal Investigations Division, and the Community Outreach Unit.
His professional development includes completion of prestigious leadership programs through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Police Chiefs Association. He is also a graduate of the esteemed 285th session of the FBI National Academy — an honor reserved for the top 1% of law enforcement professionals nationwide, and a distinction held by only one other UCFPD officer.
A proud UCF alumnus, Freeman holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a graduate certificate in police leadership. He recently earned a master’s degree in public safety from the University of Virginia.
Outside of work, Freeman is a devoted husband and father of two future Knights. He enjoys yard work and is an avid baseball fan.
Derrick Stockdreher
Law Enforcement Major
Bio
Derrick Stockdreher is a law enforcement leader with over 28 years of service at the UCF Police Department. In his current role as Major over the Administrative Bureau, he oversees special events, support services, and procurement.
After starting as a patrol officer, Stockdreher rose through the ranks as a leader while fostering a team atmosphere to achieve the goals of and progress UCFPD. With a deep knowledge of the university community, he has extensive experience managing people, building partnerships and multitasking to support the needs of the agency and university.
A two-time UCF alum, he has a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in criminal justice, with a graduate certificate in police leadership. He also is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officers Development Course.
Stockdreher is a dedicated husband and dog parent. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, live music and outdoor activities.
James Mangan
Law Enforcement Major
Bio
James Mangan is a seasoned law enforcement professional with 24 years of experience at the University of Central Florida Police Department (UCFPD). In his current role as Major of the Operations Bureau, he oversees police operations across the main and regional campus patrol divisions, the Criminal Investigations Division, and the Community Outreach Unit.
James began his career as a patrol officer in 2001 and steadily rose through the ranks. As Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, he led the creation of the agency’s Threat Management Program. Later, while serving as Commander of the regional patrol division at UCF Downtown, he built key partnerships within the Parramore community. He also spearheaded the development of UCFPD’s Critical Stress Management and Peer-to-Peer Support Teams, initiatives designed to support the mental health and well-being of officers and civilian staff.
His dedication has earned him multiple honors, including two UCFPD Lifesaving Awards, CIT Officer of the Year, and MADD Officer of the Year. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officers Development Course and was part of UCF’s Leadership Enhancement Program (2021–2022 cohort).
A lifelong Knight, James holds two bachelor’s degrees from UCF—one in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice, and another in Criminal Justice. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Outside of work, James is a devoted husband and father of two. A proud UCF Athletics season ticket holder, he can often be found cheering on his Knights.