Wife…Mother…Grandmother…Chief of Police? That’s right, Donna Spinato, University Chief of Police, blonde hair, blazing smile, and personality to match.
Chief Spinato is wife to Commerce High School Assistant Principal Joe Spinato, mother to Kristen, and grandmother to Carley. She enjoys scrap- booking in her limited spare time, and has a true passion for the City and University alike.
Born Donna Baker, Chief Spinato grew up in Commerce and never strayed to far from home. She attended grammar and high school in the Commerce school system and continued her education at East Texas State University.
“When I came to college I actually wanted to be an interior decorator,” Spinato said, “But the University was doing some reorganization at the time, and they did away with the Home Ec program. Based on that, I was still at the University, and I had met some of the Police Officers, and they said “You know there is a dispatcher’s position that’s full time with benefits,” and I thought, ” goodness gracious, I could never work over there, but I went to the interview and I was the one that was chosen. So I began working, while I was continuing my education, and I began to build my interest. At that time Sam McCord was the chief and he said I had a “natural knack” for it.”
She began her career working as a dispatcher, was promoted to a security officer position which she did for about a year and a half.
Spinato and her husband then moved to Dallas for a while where she worked in accounting and welcomed her daughter, Kristen to her family.
“My husband decided to come back to school to work on his Master’s degree, and I came back to work for the University. When I came back it was as a police officer. Once it’s in your blood, it’s kinda always there. So, I did that for five or six years, and then there was a specialty position as a criminal investigator. I interviewed for that and got that, so I was the Criminal Investigator here for 10 years.”
In 1999, Spinato was named Chief of Police.
“One of the things I enjoy about working for a University is that we get the opportunity to meet our students and mingle with them and get to know them as individuals, and let them see us as individuals while we help them reach the goals that they’re seeking.” Spinato said.
As a former President of the Texas Association of College Police Chief Administrators, Spinato is still very involved within the organization. When she retires, Spinato says she hopes to travel.
“I don’t know what I’ll do with all that free time. I’ve never had free time, I’ve always worked. I’ll be lost. She names Cancun, Mexico as the most fun place she’s been so far. “It’s a lot of fun and really beautiful there,” she said. “We really hope to go to Italy.”
“When people are in trouble and we’re able to come help them in a way, shape, form or fashion, or if we can may be guide them in a way that keeps them from making decisions that will close doors versus open doors for them, those are some of the things we (police officers) like to do.” Spinato said.
“I guess that because of the title (Chief of Police) people think that you’re all business, and that you won’t take the time to listen to what’s really the problem or the issue. But I’ve been told before that I encourage people to be able to talk to me. I mean, you don’t have to be in trouble to talk to the police.”
“One of the things I really enjoy being able to do is talk to students and see what their needs and concerns are,” She said, “also, talking with faculty and staff, because this is OUR University, and we all need to be a stake holder in it.” Spinato said.
Spinato is dedicated not only to making the University safe for students, but also raising awareness about the services her department have to offer. “Give us an opportunity to serve you, give us an opportunity to see what kinds of services and programs we can provide you. And don’t be afraid to say hi to us, because we’re sure not going to be afraid to say hi to you.”
Not only does she serve the University as Chief of Police, but as Alumni of both the University and of Chi Omega Sorority.
“I like to come to the University functions, you know a lot of times when you work at a place, you don’t really want to go back, but I really enjoy coming out, seeing what the students are doing, being part of programs, and seeing students having a good time.” She said. “One thing I really like to do is pump up the spirit, I guess you could say I bleed Blue & Gold, I really do.”
Chief Spinato’s husband Joe also contributes his time and efforts to the City serving as High School Assistant Principal.
“It was really strange when my husband started working at the High School, because I was still pretty young, and he was still pretty young, and when we would go to activities, like dinners, all my teachers would be there. And I would still be calling them Miss this, and Miss that, and it was so hard when they would come up to me and say “don’t call me that, I’m Janet now,” and I’d say no, no, no, you’ll always be Ms. Peek, and she’s one of the people, Ms Janet Peek, that I truly admire. She’s taught me many of the things that made me into the adult that I am now, like to give back to the community, and having respect for yourself and others. It’s nice to be able to thank the people that contributed to you becoming who you are today, and she’s one of those.” Spinato said.