READING, Pa. — Lt. John Bessey, who previously served as interim lieutenant at Penn State Abington, has been named station commander of University Police at Penn State Berks, effective Sept. 17.
Bessey, who has served University Police for 29 years, replaces Kevin Rudy, who was promoted to district commander for the Southeast District of Penn State University Police earlier this year.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve Penn State through University Police, and I look forward to serving the Penn State Berks community,” Bessey said.
The permanent station commander at Penn State Abington is Lt. Ken Strother.
Penn State Berks currently has seven police officers serving more than 3,000 students and employees.
About Penn State University Police and Public Safety
Established in 1926 as Campus Patrol, today?Penn State University Police and Public Safety?is responsible for protecting and serving more than 100,000 Penn State students, faculty and staff members, plus visitors, at 22 campuses located throughout Pennsylvania.
In 2017, Penn State centralized University Police and Public Safety by combining campus-based units into one, cohesive department under the direction of the assistant vice president for police and public safety. The unified department has roughly 135 full-time and part-time police officers, 75 non-sworn and civilian staff, and roughly 90 student employees.
University Police and Public Safety provides multiple resources and services, including police services,?behavioral threat management,?Clery compliance,?and?emergency management. The department also includes a K-9 unit and Community-Oriented Policing Unit.
