PHILADELPHIA — A special Penn State committee has retained former FBI Director Louis Freeh and his firm to lead an internal investigation at the university and take a thorough, impartial look into any governance and oversight missteps that kept an alleged sexual predator free to prey on children for years, PSU trustee Kenneth Frazier announced Monday.

"I am committed to ensuring that our independent investigation will be conducted in a thorough, fair, comprehensive manner, leaving no stone unturned and without any fear or favor," Freeh said at a Center City press conference. "Our mandate is clear: We have been tasked to investigate the matter fully, fairly and completely," showing no favoritism to any parties -- including the university board.

"The special committee has assured us of total independence," said Freeh, who won conviction of 16 of 17 co-defendants in an extensive drug-trafficking operation known as "Pizza Connection." He also oversaw the investigation into the mail-bomb murders of the VANPAC case.

The 32-member Penn State board initiated the special committee about two weeks ago, shortly after 40 counts of criminal charges of child sexual abuse were filed against former football coach Jerry Sandusky. Two now-former university administrators -- Tim Curley and Gary Schultz -- are accused of helping to cover up allegations.

Tasked with identifying failures within Penn State and recommending internal reforms, the committee includes six university trustees, one graduate student, an alumnus and a Faculty Senate representative.

Frazier, the CEO of Merck and Co. Inc., is leading the committee along with Ron Tomalis, another trustee, who is also the Pennsylvania secretary of education. Other committee members are:

• Mark Dambly, president of Pennrose Properties;

• Jesse Arnelle, attorney at law;

• Keith Eckel, sole proprietor and president of Fred W. Eckel Sons Farms; board chairman, Nationwide Insurance;

• Karen Peetz, vice chair, chief executive officer, Financial Markets and Treasury Services, Bank of New York Mellon;

• Dan Hagan, chair, Penn State Faculty Senate; professor of animal science, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences;

• Rodney Hughes, Penn State graduate student;

• and Guion Bluford Jr., Penn State Class of 1964; eminent engineer; retired colonel, U.S. Air Force; former NASA astronaut.

Speaking Monday, Frazier said people are asking "completely valid questions about why actions were not taken that might have saved any of the victims from harm.

"Words alone cannot express the heartbreak and sorrow we feel for the victims," Frazier said, "even more so because they were defenseless young children. We are especially heartbroken that some of these unspeakable acts could have occurred on the campus of Penn State University. We care deeply for the victims (and) their families, whose lives have been tragically affected."

Frazier reiterated that "it is a clear and absolute imperative for everyone in a position of power" to report properly and stop any such crimes. He also expressed that the entire Penn State community is "deeply, deeply sorry."

The university board, Frazier said, "is committed to leaving no stone unturned to get to the bottom of what happened" and make any necessary reforms to prevent any such harm in the future.

"No one, no one is above scrutiny, including every member of the administration, every member of the Board of Trustees and every employee of Penn State University," he said, not shying away from including Gov. Tom Corbett. Corbett, a PSU trustee, launched the grand-jury investigation into the Sandusky allegations in 2008, when he served as attorney general.

Freeh, a former top prosecutor and judge, is particularly well suited to lead an internal investigation, Frazier said. He underscored that Freeh, experienced in fighting sex crimes, has no Penn State ties and no Pennsylvania ties "to speak of," either.

Already, Freeh said, he has spoken with state Attorney General Linda Kelly. He will soon speak with Penn State police and the state police, as well, he said.

No price tag nor timeframe for the investigation was offered, but Freeh is cognizant of the fact "there's an urgency to get the facts so we can make recommendations." The scope of the investigation will date to 1975, he said, and will include alleged incidents of sexual abuse that weren't reported to the attorney general's office. In one of those, a man alleged he was abused by a former professor.

Freeh said he has assembled a team of professionals with no connections to Penn State. They want to hear from all witnesses and anyone else who has relevant information, Freeh said.

To that end, a hotline for people wishing to share information will be activated at 5 p.m. Monday. The number: (855) 290-3382. An e-mail address has been created for the same purpose: psuhelp@freehgroup.com.

Freeh said his effort, once complete, will include recommendations to Penn State. His report will be made public at roughly the same time it's delivered to the Penn State board, he said.

Last week, the university Faculty Senate moved to ask Penn State for a wholly independent investigation, one entirely separate of the trustees' special-committee efforts. Asked Monday about that Faculty Senate request, Frazier said he believes the Freeh-led effort fulfills the spirit of what the Faculty Senate wants.

"We 100 percent agree with the underlying sentiment of the faculty," Frazier said. "We have to do an investigation that's perceived by everyone as full, impartial and comprehensive, and that's why we retained a independent person of Judge Freeh's standing."

Frazier said the press conference was held in Philadelphia as a means to distribute information as quickly as possible after Freeh's retention. Penn State's University Park campus, in State College, is largely shuttered this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Text of prepared remarks from the press conference is available via Penn State Live.

Related coverage

• StateCollege.com's earlier and ongoing coverage of the Penn State-charges situation