John Carson, the new director of Western University’s Campus Community Police Service, has taken the reins.

He says he hopes to maintain the current services to provide continued success.

“There aren’t going to be any vast overnight changes I can assure you, but what we will do and continue to do is focus on our student population.”

Carson has been the service’s safe campus coordinator since 2011. He replaces Elgin Austen in the top spot, who has headed the service since 2003.

Carson began his policing career with the OPP in 1978 and received a number of awards in the years that followed.

He took the lead at Western on Wednesday, and on Thursday he was welcomed by London police Chief Brad Duncan.

Western’s campus police has a staff of 30 and works to provide a safe community for students.