Florence, SC (PRESS RELEASE) – Donald R. Tarbell has been named chief of the Francis Marion University Police Department. He replaces chief Richard Austin who retired last month after more than 20 years of service at FMU.
Tarbell, a native of Rochester, NY, came to the university in 2012 as captain and deputy chief. He is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, for which he has been a member since 2005. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1994 to 2005 as both an enlisted soldier and a commissioned officer. Prior to his service at FMU, Tarbell was captain and interim chief for the Bishopville Police Department. He’s also served as a Special Agent with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and as a state trooper for the S.C. Highway Patrol. While working as a state trooper, Tarbell was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command’s (MARSOC) Individual Mobilization Augmented Detachment.
Tarbell graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice. He earned a graduate degree in management from National University.
He and his wife Courtney and their two children reside in Hartsville.
Tarbell’s promotion was recognized at a ceremony held on campus recently. At the ceremony, three other police promotions were recognized. Chris Moore was promoted to lieutenant, and officers Kipp Britt and T. Nicole Brown were promoted to sergeant.
