San Jose State University has been without a permanent University Police Department chief of police since Peter Decena retired from the post seven months ago, but now the hunt for a new chief is breaking into its final stages.
During the summer, recruitment firm Bob Murray & Associates began conducting a national search for potential candidates on behalf of SJSU. The university worked with the firm in the past for the 2010 UPD chief of police search that resulted in the hiring of Decena.
“For the past 18 years we have been a private company contracting with government entities and agencies to provide executive recruitment services,” said Regan Williams, senior vice president of Bob Murray & Associates.
The firm will review the credentials of officers who submitted an application before Oct. 19 and create a short list of the most qualified personnel.
In a brochure compiled by the firm, the qualifications for the ideal chief of police includes a bachelor’s degree in a field related to police science, business administration or public administration.
The candidate must also have a minimum of five years experience at the command level of a police department, and a Peace Officer Standards and Training certification completed in the state of California.
“SJSU is seeking a law enforcement professional
with high energy and integrity to provide the vision necessary to successfully lead the University Police Department,” the
brochure stated.
Since Decena left for the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, UPD Captain Alan Cavallo has temporarily overseen campus law enforcement as the interim chief of police.
“When Peter decided that he was going to retire from here, Alan was the second in command, so he took over day-to-day operations,” Vice President of Administration and Finance Charlie Faas said. “Alan knows how this
campus works.”
Cavallo said he was honored to take the role of interim and has worked hard to keep the department moving in a positive direction. He also put forth his desire to be rehired as the permanent chief
of police.
“I am looking forward to competing,” the former captain said. “I have not decided what I will do should I not be selected for the position.”
After assigning Cavallo his temporary post in March, Faas put together a Police Chief Search Committee and filled it with students, faculty and community members.
The committee will make a recommendation to Faas based on the candidates named on the short list compiled and provided by Bob Murray & Associates.
Among those on the committee are representatives from the justice studies department, the university library and the division of student affairs.
Associate Vice President for Student Services Romando Nash is leading the search team.
“It is our hope that the new police chief will be creative, interactive, engaging and an asset to the SJSU community while cultivating key partnerships with external community members,” Nash said.
Accounting information systems senior Oscar Guerrero said he would like to see the new chief of police increase UPD’s presence on campus to deter crime.
“I don’t want UPD to become militarized, but I hope the new chief can find the right balance and is willing to test out new techniques,” Guerrero said.
Faas expressed his desire to hire a chief that will make their presence known among the student community. The VP specifically stated that the new chief should lead the department in making campus police more approachable to students.
“If a fraternity close to campus is having a late night party and things go awry, [the university] wants them to feel comfortable calling UPD for assistance.”
The committee has yet to receive the short list of candidates, but it expects to make a recommendation for a new chief of police in the spring semester.
