A 17-year law enforcement veteran has been named as Penn State’s chief of police and public safety.
Wesley Sheets, who held the position on an interim basis since January, was selected to fill the role overseeing University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) permanently, according to a university news release. His appointment began on Monday.
Sheets’ appointment comes following the retirement of Associate Vice President for UPPS Charlie Noffsinger at the end of 2022.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a department committed to serving our Penn State and surrounding communities with respect, professionalism and accountability,” Sheets said in a statement. “I am truly fortunate to serve alongside an extraordinary leadership team as well as an exceptional group of staff within UPPS. Working together in partnership with our communities, we will continue to foster a culture focused on engagement, transparency and trust as we continue to build on our tradition of excellence.”
Sheets began his law enforcement career in 2006 and joined Penn State in 2013 as a police lieutenant and station commander. He was promoted to deputy chief of police for the southwest district in 2018, and executive deputy chief of operations in 2021.
As chief, Sheets oversees a department that includes university police; behavioral threat management; emergency management; diversity, equity and inclusion; public information; Clery Act compliance; physical security; and police records. The department provides police and safety services at all 22 of Penn State’s campuses.
Penn State’s police department is divided into six districts across Pennsylvania: northwest, southwest, central, southeast, northeast and University Park, each led by a district commander. University Police is as an accredited, full-service police department with sworn officers who possess full law enforcement authority.
“In the few months since Wes has taken on the interim chief of police and public safety role within UPPS, he has shown exemplary leadership, innovation and commitment to the department and its employees,” Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance and business, said. “It is a pleasure working alongside Wes and his team, and I’m sure I speak for all when I say we are excited to see the department led into a very bright future and are appreciative of the work the department does every day to keep our university communities safe.”
The university also announced that Executive Deputy Chief Stephanie Delaney will now oversee UPPS operations permanently, in addition to her existing duties of managing the department’s administrative functions. Delaney previously was deputy chief for the University Park campus and spent eight years overseeing the criminal investigative unit.
With the leadership changes, Penn State does not plan to fill the associate vice president position for UPPS, according to the release.
