Search for new police commissioner going well

The search for a new University Police Commissioner has kicked into high gear as the July 31 resignation date of current Commissioner John Kuprevich approaches. According to Executive Vice President John Fry, the search is moving along well. He reported that a field of 70 or more applicants has been narrowed down to 15 people. He described the applicant pool as being "extremely qualified." "I'm really excited about some of the people who have applied," Fry said. And he added that a new commissioner would most likely be chosen in the next month or month and a half. Fry said the next step is for the field of 15 to be narrowed down to six, which could happen in the next week to 10 days. Faculty, administration and students are involved in the process of narrowing the number down and interviewing the individual applicant, he said. Kuprevich announced on April 13 that he would resign his position at the University on July 31. Since his resignation, Kuprevich has maintained that he will stay involved in campus law enforcement. According to University of New Mexico Lieutenant Steve Lewis, Kuprevich is on the short list of UNM's candidates for the next commissioner of public safety. Kuprevich was the University's first commissioner of public safety and oversaw the University Police department and the Victim Support and Special Services unit since assuming the post in December 1990.