With a background shaped by the small-town values of Claysville, Pennsylvania, Officer Katie Demi brings her personal heritage to the streets of Columbus as a member of the Ohio State University Police Division. According to a recent profile published by the OSU Department of Public Safety, Demi, who has been with OSUPD since July 2024, cites her upbringing and her father's influence as a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper as the foundations of her commitment to community and kindness within her law enforcement role.
Despite being relatively new to the police division, Demi has already found her unique niche in the campus's security apparatus, from covering athletic events to volunteering alongside her dog, Goose with the Buckeye Paws therapy team—fulfilling their role in fostering wellbeing across Ohio State territory. Her service is rooted in deep ties to the University, with her family history interwoven with the institution, a story she shared in the OSU Department of Public Safety interview – Demi's parents both met on campus and she, alongside her brother and mother, are alumni; reminiscing about her childhood memories of Ohio State football games, she asserts, "Campus has always been a special place to me, and now I get to play a small role in protecting it."
Policing at Ohio State presents a unique opportunity, giving Officer Demi a front-row seat to the university's dynamic sports life that she deeply cherishes, as an added perk of her law enforcement duties, she finds herself at the heart of the action attending countless games and matches. In her downtime, her personal pursuits echo the athleticism celebrated on campus; Demi regularly engages in basketball and flag football, maintaining an active lifestyle parallel to her work. Additionally, as a buckeye through and through, she enjoys the sense of community that extends far beyond campus borders—spotting fellow Buckeyes in her travels across the nation, to which she told the OSU Department of Public Safety, "My favorite thing about being a Buckeye is running into other Buckeyes no matter where I am."
Aligning with the ethos of Ohio State, which emphasizes community engagement and wellbeing, Officer Demi's presence on campus contributes to the multifaceted fabric of campus life. She, along with other members of the OSUPD, play a central yet understatedly crucial role in shaping a safe and positive environment for every individual who steps into their extensive Buckeye community.
