AUSTIN, Texas—The Office of the Vice President for Employee and Campus Services has reopened its search for a chief of police.
An offer was extended to the top candidate Aaron Graves, chief of police for the University of Southern California, but Graves informed UT Austin that he has chosen to pursue an opportunity for promotion with another university.
“We are disappointed that we were unable to recruit Chief Graves to the university,” said Pat Clubb, vice president for employee and campus services. “His depth of experience, background and other qualifications distinguished his candidacy.”
Bob Harkins, associate vice president for campus safety and security, said the university was aggressive in its efforts to recruit Graves.
“The feedback we received from the campus largely favored Chief Graves, so we made an extremely competitive offer,” Harkins said. “After more than a week of conversation and consideration, Chief Graves made his decision. Of course, I wish things were different and that he were coming to Texas, but I wish him well with the choice he’s made. Right now the important thing is to get this search going again and find someone with a vision who can build on the successes of the police department.”
Clubb said the primary reason for reopening the position was to assure the best choice is made for the campus.
“This process was inclusive and thorough, and as a result, we had consensus on the top candidate,” Clubb said. “In order to achieve that degree of consensus, we must begin the process again.”
The university’s search for a new chief of police yielded more than 100 applicants. Eleven applicants were interviewed by telephone by a 19-member search committee. The committee recommended four finalists to the university community, three of whom participated in stakeholder interviews and campus-wide forums during October and November.
According to Clubb, Dr. Mike Lauderdale will once again chair the search committee. Previous applicants are already being considered and need not reapply. Interested candidates who did not previously apply can find the job posting (#05-05-27-01-0406) online at http://utdirect.utexas.edu/pnjobs/.
