Dear Colleagues,
As you know, on June 1, 2016, Deputy Police Chief Hans Rhynhart began serving as interim Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety at the University of Connecticut.
In the months that have passed since that time, Chief Rhynhart has continued to distinguish himself as a highly-effective leader, a trusted colleague, and a conscientious police officer who is deeply committed to UConn and the mission of Public Safety on our campuses.
We are pleased to announce that we have named him to the permanent position of Chief of Police, effective immediately. He will also continue as interim Director of Public Safety.
As chief, he is responsible for the day-to-day supervision and leadership of 81 sworn police personnel and operations covering UConn’s main campus in Storrs as well as its four regional campuses and the law school.
Chief Rhynhart is a 1993 graduate of UConn, has been a sworn officer for 18 years and is a 16-year veteran of the UConn Police Department. He previously served as the Patrol Section commanding officer, Detective Bureau supervisor, Narcotics Unit supervisor, and received the 2004 State of Connecticut Tolland Judicial District State’s Attorney Police Officer of the Year award. He also attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 12-week National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
As a university public safety official and executive, Chief Rhynhart develops and fosters a variety of partnerships that cross all functions of the university.
Over his long tenure at UConn – and especially in his leadership positions – he has earned the respect and confidence of the university community, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him.
Public safety is a unique profession that carries with it enormous responsibility and risk. The actions of our police officers, firefighters, and the department’s civilian employees can at times mean the difference between life and death for members of our community. We are enormously indebted to each of them.
We will have a formal ceremony in the spring to mark this promotion.
Please join us in congratulating Chief Rhynhart, thanking him for his continued service to UConn, and in wishing him all the best.
Sincerely,
Susan Herbst
President
Scott Jordan
Executive Vice President for Administration & Chief Financial Officer
For more information, contact: evpacfo@uconn.edu at 860-486-3455