Duke Names Bob Dean Acting Police Chief
Search Underway for New Associate Vice President of Campus Safety and Security
Retired Duke Police Maj. Robert H. "Bob" Dean has been named acting police chief of the Duke Police Department, university officials announced Wednesday.
Dean, who served the Duke community for 41 years, will lead the department on an interim basis. A search for someone to assume the new position of associate vice president of campus safety and security is currently underway.
"Bob Dean has been a mentor to many of our officers," said Kemel Dawkins, vice president of campus services. "He was trusted by people everywhere, from Student Affairs officials who sought out his advice to local reporters. He knows the department, Duke and Durham."
Dean's appointment comes after Duke Police Chief Clarence Birkhead announced in May that he had accepted the position of police chief for Hillsborough, a town about 10 miles west of Durham. Birkhead's last day at Duke is June 30.
"I am honored to return to Duke for this opportunity to work alongside the professionals in the police department to ensure a safe and secure campus and MedicalCenter," Dean said.
Dawkins said Dean is a good fit to provide leadership to Duke Police on an interim basis, a role Dean carried out for several months in 1991 at North CarolinaCentralUniversity.
At Duke, Dean rose through the ranks from police officer in 1973 to major before his retirement in 2003. His key roles included commander of criminal investigations and manager of community affairs and public information. In that latter position, he was a liaison to the university's minority community and maintained dialogue between police and students.
Dean has remained active in public safety and the community by serving as president of Durham CrimeStoppers. He is married, lives in Durham and has four children.
Dawkins said the university has retained a search firm to help identify candidates for the new position of associate vice president of Campus Safety and Security, an enhanced role that includes not only policing but also a broader set of safety and security issues. Dawkins said he plans to form an advisory committee of Duke community members who will assist in making a final selection.