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Search for next chief of Purdue University Police Department

To: Executive Vice Presidents, Chancellors, Vice Presidents, Vice Chancellors, Vice Provosts, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Schools, Divisions, Departments and Offices 

From: Jay Wasson, Associate Vice President for Administrative Operations

Date: May 19, 2022

Re: Search for next chief of Purdue University Police Department

Dear colleagues, 

I write to inform you of the national search process that is now underway for the next chief of the Purdue University Police Department.

As you all know, finding the right individual for this role will be critical to the ongoing and future safety of our campus and all members of our community.

Recruitment activities have begun: A mix of standard job posting procedures, job/industry-specific postings and personal outreach will create a diverse candidate pool for consideration. The following individuals make up the search committee that will screen and recommend well-qualified candidates to me for further consideration:

  • Trent Klingerman, Deputy General Counsel (committee chair)
  • Chief Scott Galloway, Lafayette Police Department and adjunct professor, Purdue Department of Sociology.
  • Keene Red Elk, Director of Logistics, Physical Facilities (former PUPD deputy chief).
  • Katie Sermersheim, Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students.
  • Eric Dietz, Director of the Purdue Homeland Security Institute and professor, Computer and Information Technology Department.
  • David Rollock, 150th Anniversary Professor of Psychological Sciences.
  • Nigel Taylor, student representative.

Here are some tentative dates as we move through the recruitment process:

  • Week of July 4: Search committee provides recommendation of top 3-4 candidates.
  • Week of July 11: Campus visits for top candidates.
  • Week of July 18: Final interview(s) with University executive leadership.
  • Week of July 25: Contingent job offer to best-qualified candidate.
  • August 22: Target start date. 

The chief of police is responsible for planning, directing and overseeing the operational, financial and staffing operations of the Purdue University Police Department. As the top law enforcement officer for Purdue, the chief is responsible for protecting the public and public property for the Boilermaker community as well as serve as liaison to and expand upon relationships across the university and with county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Our next Purdue chief of police will succeed Chief John Cox, who announced in April his intention to retire as chief as of July 31.