Three U. Police officials given new posts

As the Division of Public Safety begins to take on additional administrative duties, officials announced a round of promotions to help facilitate the changes. Michael Fink, an 11-year veteran of the University Police who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant just last September, will assume the role of deputy chief of operations, assisting Police Chief Maureen Rush in running the day-to-day operations of the largest private police force in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Detectives Patricia Brennan, 47, and William Danks, 51, have been promoted to detective supervisors and will now help run the eight-member investigative unit. According to Vice President for Public Safety Tom Seamon, the promotions -- which go into effect February 22 -- will help ease the division's transition over the next few months as the University Police begins implementing new protocols that allow the department to process its own arrest warrants and do preliminary paperwork for suspects who are arrested. Until now, Penn Police have had to process suspects through the Philadelphia Police Department. Brennan and Danks, both of whom came to the University from the PPD in July 1996, will be responsible for supervising the detectives and training officers to use the new technology in their position as detective supervisors. They will continue to report to Tom King, the force's detective commander since September 1997, who was given the new title of deputy chief of investigations. King said changes in the division necessitated adding the additional supervisory positions. "There will be a need for a lot more training and oversight on a daily basis and both Bill and Patty have extensive experience and training and are very capable trainers themselves," he said. King explained that his new title simply reflects the increased amount of administrative responsibility he has already been given, which includes overseeing the division's Records Department. Seamon said he and other top Public Safety officials looked at the officers' backgrounds and work records when deciding on the promotions. "We think we picked the best ones," Seamon said. Fink's new role means he will assist Rush, who heads the University Police, with her workload, which has increased as the department has grown in size to over 100 officers, Seamon said. Fink could not be reached for comment. Both Brennan and Danks have already worked with the new technology that is coming to Penn during their years with the PPD. "I've done that my whole career so that background and that experience will suit me well," Danks said. The promotions are the latest in a series of changes in the University Police's chain of command. Seamon -- a former Philadelphia deputy police commissioner who came to Penn in 1995 -- was given the new title of vice president of public safety by the University Trustees last summer. Last year, the Penn Police restructured and eliminated the director of police administration position, held at the time by former Penn Police Chief George Clisby. Rush then assumed the title of director of police.