SCHUYLKILL, Pa. — Sgt. Ken Cooper has been named station commander of University Police at Penn State Schuylkill, effective Aug. 31.
Cooper, who has served on the University Police force for 28 years, replaces Lt. Pat Carroll, who retires Aug. 31 after serving as police services supervisor since 2006.
“I look forward to continuing to protect and serve the Penn State community and I wish Lt. Carroll a well-deserved retirement,” Cooper said.
Cooper will also provide supervisory support at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Established in 1926 as Campus Patrol, today Penn State University Police and Public Safety is responsible for protecting and serving Penn State’s students, faculty members, staff members and visitors at all 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.
Penn State Schuylkill currently has five police officers serving roughly 900 students and employees.