‘I am honored.’ Penn State taps long-serving officer as chief of police and public safety
Penn State police and public safety will be led by a long-serving officer who rose through the ranks, the university announced Thursday as it capped off a monthslong search.
Wesley Sheets was appointed Monday as the university’s chief of police and public safety. The veteran who began his law enforcement career in 2006 served in the role on an interim basis since Jan. 1.
“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 written 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 was selected to effectively fill the shoes of former university police and public safety Associate Vice President Charlie Noffsinger, who retired after being named to the position in 2016.
Noffsinger’s role will not be filled, the university wrote in a statement.
Sheets joined Penn State in 2013 as a lieutenant and station commander. He was promoted to deputy chief of police for the southwest district in 2018. He was appointed executive deputy chief of operations in 2021.
Sheets is responsible for overseeing all of the department’s divisions across the university’s 22 campuses.
“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, the university’s 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.”
The university also expanded the responsibilities of Executive Deputy Chief Stephanie Delaney. She will oversee police and public safety operations, in addition to managing the department’s administrative functions.
“We look forward to continuing to build a cooperative relationship with Chief Sheets and his lead team as we work together for the betterment of the agency, university, and the campus communities across the Commonwealth,” Penn State University Police Officer’s Association President Dale Moore wrote in an email.
