By Jeff Murphy,
October 25, 2023
Capt. Dan Othic recently was recognized with an award named for a former FBI Director
and Kansas City Police Chief.
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 More than 25 years of dedication to public service has led to regional
recognition for Capt. Dan Othic, a longtime officer with the University of Central
Missouri鈥檚 Department of Public Safety. He was recently honored as recipient of the
Clarence M. Kelley Meritorious Service Award.
The award presentation was made at the Lake of the Ozarks during the fall 2023 meeting
of the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter of the FBI, National Academy Associates. The
award has been presented annually since 2001, honoring a chapter member from Kansas
during the spring Re-Trainer program and a Missouri member during the chapter鈥檚 fall
Re-Trainer. Award winners are individuals who show 鈥渄edication to an exemplary career
in law enforcement.鈥
A UCM alumnus, Othic graduated from UCM with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
in 1996 and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration in 2006. He began
his professional career in law enforcement in 1997 as a member of the Clinton, Missouri
Police Department, then joined UCM鈥檚 Department of Public Safety in July 1998. He
is currently serving as Assistant Director in Public Safety for Police Operations.
In speaking about the award, Othic said, 鈥淚 am proud to be a member of the world鈥檚
strongest law enforcement leadership association. I am truly honored to be included
on the list of great law enforcement leaders in our region who have received this
award.鈥
The award is named for a Missourian who left a legacy in law enforcement, not only
in this state and region, but across the nation. Born in Kansas City, Missouri in
1911, Clarence Kelley was an alumnus of both the University of Kansas and the University
of Missouri. He served in the United States Navy from 1944-1946, and was granted military
leave from the FBI. Kelley was initially signed to the Kansas City office, where his
performance led to his promotion as Field Supervisor. His career took him to FBI posts
as a Special Agent in Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington; and San Francisco, California,
then to the Training and Inspection Division of FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.,
where he became an Inspector. He was later re-assigned to the Birmingham, Alabama
office as Special Agent in Charge, and reassigned to the Memphis, Tennessee office
with the same professional title in 1960. Kelley served there until his retirement
from the FBI in 1961, when he became Chief of Police in Kansas City. In 1973, he was
nominated for the FBI Director鈥檚 post by President Richard M. Nixon, and sworn into
office, where he served until announcing his retirement in 1977.
UCM's Student Government Association once honored Kelley as recipient of the James
C. Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance Award.