JD Withrow, Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety, has worked with the University of South Florida Police Department for the past 27 years. He began his career with the department as a Patrol Officer in 1986 and ascended through the ranks to his current position as Chief. He also served as the Director of Police Services on the USF Sarasota/Manatee campus for four years. He has a Master of Arts Degree in Adult Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Senior Leadership Program class #8 and Chief's Executive Seminar class #27. JD is a CJSTC certified instructor and has considerable experience with law enforcement recruit, advanced and professional, and in-service training and education.

Chief Withrow is married and has two adult children. He enjoys sports.