University of Arizona President Robbins says it will take 6-9 months to find new police chief
Word came this week that a University of Arizona provost and the police chief are leaving their jobs as fallout continues from the on-campus killing of a professor last October.
At a briefing Friday, university officials were asked how replacing the two will help campus safety reform efforts.
President Robert Robbins said organizational change can help improve communication and cooperation on a campus with constant activity.
“But we have to get back to the fundamentals of trusting each other working together,” said Robbins.
The family of the late Professor Thomas Meixner filed a $9 million notice of claim against the UA in late March.
Robbins predicted it will take six-to-nine months to find a permanent replacement for the school’s police chief.
At Friday’s briefing, Laureate Professor Richard Carmona said that the new chief will have a broad understanding of de-escalation and all-hazard preparedness.
“It’s not just an active shooter, it’s about being engaged with all preventative strategies to prevent anything bad from happening. And when it does, being able to mobilize our resources as quickly as possible.”
UA’s interim chief is Chris Olson, an adjunct professor and commander for the Oro Valley Police Department.
