Penn State University Police and Public Safety has appointed Iris Richardson as the department’s first director of diversity, equity and inclusion, following a national search that began in 2019.

University Police and Public Safety remains operational during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the department is offering public safety programming for students and employees virtually University-wide. 

After nearly 20 years of distinguished service to Penn State Berks, University Police Deputy Chief Kevin Rudy will retire on Aug. 31, 2019. His retirement is the culmination of nearly 40 years in law enforcement.

Three Penn State Berks University Police officers have joined Blue CARES, a collaborative community policing program between Berks County law enforcement officers and the Council on Chemical Abuse.

Currently, seven campus police stations are equipped with naloxone, including Beaver, Berks, Brandywine, DuBois, Erie, Great Valley and University Park. Administrators continue to work with local and county agencies to equip officers with naloxone at the remaining campuses.

Lt. John Bessey, who previously served as interim lieutenant at Penn State Abington, has been named station commander of University Police at Penn State Berks, effective Sept. 17.

Penn State University Police and Public Safety has promoted five individuals to the rank of deputy chief, effective Jan. 2, 2018. The deputy chiefs will be assigned as district commanders under a new centralized structure that will unify and streamline police operations at all Penn State Commonwealth Campuses.