Luippold on leave, O'Connor fills in

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

eadership in Public Safety temporarily changes hands this month as director of Public Safety and chief of police Jack Luippold begins a six-month leave of absence.

     Deputy chief of police Barbara O'Connor became acting chief of police Oct. 1. Luippold's leave extends until April 14.

     "I can think of no job as demanding as the one the chief of police has," said Javier Cevallos, vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life, "so it is a most-deserved leave after 10 years as director of Public Safety."

     "Over the next six months, we will continue to do those great things Jack has established in service to the community," O'Connor said. "He's really charted a course, in terms of the service we deliver. The confidence that the community has in the type of service we provide is really based on Jack's leadership."

     O'Connor said moving from deputy chief to acting chief won't affect her already full schedule much but that the department will have to assign someone to take on some of the responsibilities she had in her deputy role.

     "It's just too much work for one person to do," she said of the two jobs.

     O'Connor said she hopes to make the assignment within two weeks.