Search for Public Safety head goes on

University officials hope to select a new vice president for Public Safety by the end of March, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. Fry said yesterday that five finalists have been selected for the position, and each will be interviewed over the next month by three University selection committees. The finalists, who Fry declined to name, are the only ones left after two rounds of interviews. Penn received close to 70 applicants for the position. The only internal applicant was University Police Chief Maureen Rush. Rush is acting as the interim vice president until the position is filled permanently. "Maureen has done a terrific job as the person who's been running the place in interim," Fry said, but he would not comment on whether or not Rush is still being considered for the job. The five finalists will meet with the tri-chairs of the Faculty Senate, the University Council Committee on Safety and a committee of students, faculty, staff and community members headed by School of Social Work Dean Ira Schwartz. The search for a new Vice President -- who oversees the University Police, Special Services and Fire and Occupational Safety departments -- began in October, when then-Vice President Thomas Seamon stepped down to become the chief executive officer of TrainLogic, Inc., a security and consulting firm. Originally, 66 applicants submitted resumes. That number was then narrowed to nine, which was reduced to five after a series of interviews. After a final choice is selected, that person will be interviewed by University President Judith Rodin. Fry said the opening drew a large number of applicants for several reasons, including the position's high salary and Public Safety's recent growth. "It's an extremely attractive job," Fry said. "For serious people, it looks like a good opportunity." Rush could not comment on the selection process, which has taken longer than was originally expected. In December, Fry announced that the University hoped to have made a decision by the end of February. "There are multiple people in each of the particular groups that [the administration] is trying to set up [for interviews]," Rush said. "It's just a matter now of getting calendars worked out." If Rush does receive the job, the search for a new police chief -- the department's top position -- will begin, with many of the applicants presumably coming from the Penn Police Department itself. Fry said that because the department has many qualified people, a search for a new chief would not take very long. Last fall, Seamon's departure prompted a substantive job shuffle in the department. Deputy Chief of Operations Mike Fink, who would be an obvious candidate for chief, has moved into Rush's old office and is acting as the interim chief in her absence. Former Deputy Chief of Investigations Tom King also stepped down in December. His departure led Det. Supervisor William Danks to serve as deputy chief on an interim basis.

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