Known as “Chief Zach” by most on campus, Zacharias was hired with a charge to clean up a department that was isolated and under investigation. “He inherited what could charitably be called a broken department,” said Rafael Martín PhD’20, vice president and chief of staff. “He wanted to be successful on the UTD campus,” said Michael J. Heidingsfield, director of police for the UT System. Zacharias said his most difficult time as chief was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the campus was closed. “Whoever leads the department next will inherit an organization that will bear Chief Zach’s stamp for many, many years to come,” he said.