UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Wesley Sheets, interim chief of police and public safety for University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) has been named Penn State’s permanent chief of police and public safety. Sheets' appointment began Monday, April 17.
Sheets took on the role of interim chief of police and public safety on Jan. 1, upon the retirement of UPPS Associate Vice President Charlie Noffsinger. Sheets began his law enforcement career in 2006. He joined Penn State in 2013 as a police lieutenant and station commander and was promoted to deputy chief of police for the southwest district in 2018. In 2021, Sheets was appointed executive deputy chief of operations.
“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,” said Sheets. “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.”
As chief of police and public safety, Sheets is responsible for overseeing all divisions within the department, including University police; behavioral threat management; emergency management; diversity, equity and inclusion; public information; Clery Act compliance; physical security; and police records. The department and its employees are responsible for the protection of, and service to, more than 100,000 students, employees and visitors at 22 Penn State campuses across the commonwealth.
“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,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business. “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.”
In addition, UPPS Executive Deputy Chief Stephanie Delaney will expand her portfolio by overseeing UPPS operations permanently, in addition to her previous responsibilities of managing the department's administrative functions. Before her current role, she served as deputy chief for the University Park campus and spent eight years overseeing the criminal investigative unit.
As a result of these changes in administration, the decision has been made not to fill the former associate vice president role within UPPS.