UC Santa Barbara Appoints New Police Chief

UC Santa Barbara today announced the appointment of Bill D. Bean, Jr., a veteran UCSB police officer, as the campus's new Chief of Police.

In announcing the appointment, which is effective immediately, UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang said Bean's "very high standard of professionalism and long-term dedicated performance make him an ideal choice for this important leadership position." In addition, the chancellor said, Bean "has consistently demonstrated not only a deep insight into the principles of community-oriented policing, but also a sincere commitment to their practice within a diverse university campus and adjacent community."

Bean has been serving as acting chief of the department since 2003. He has been a member of the UCSB Police Department for 30 years, joining the force in 1975 and advancing through the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief. His service has also included earlier terms as acting chief. In his long career on the force, Bean has held direct responsibility at one time or another for all major aspects of the Police Department, including patrols, investigations, paramedics, fiscal planning, communications, operations, and administration.

"The search committee was particularly impressed by Bill Bean's steady progress through the ranks in his long career at UCSB, and with his knowledge and understanding of the issues facing the UCSB Police Department," said the chair of the search committee, Joel Michaelsen, a professor of geography and vice-chair of the Academic Senate.

Donna Carpenter, UCSB's acting vice chancellor for administrative services, to whom the campus Police Department reports, said she was very pleased with the selection of Bean as chief. "He always acts with dignity and integrity and, because of these traits, he is highly regarded on our campus and in the community," she said. "I am confident that we will continue to see our Police Department grow and flourish under his leadership."

The staff of the UCSB Police Department includes 31 sworn officers, 12 other full-time employees, and a total of 82 student employees –-- 12 who serve as emergency medical technicians and 70 Community Service Organization staff members.

"I am extremely gratified by this appointment and by the confidence that Chancellor Yang and the campus community have shown in me," said Bean. "The opportunity to serve the faculty, staff, and students of UC Santa Barbara as their police chief is one that I greatly appreciate. The dedicated men and women of the UCSB Police Department have worked diligently to provide excellent service to the campus and to ensure the health and safety of our community, and I am honored to be the person who will now lead the department as we strive to build on that success."

Among the awards and special recognitions accorded him, Bean said he was particularly proud of having been named "Employee of the Quarter" by the Police Department staff while he was serving as acting chief in 2001. He was cited for his contributions to communication and morale in the department.

A resident of Lompoc, Bean is a graduate of Allan Hancock College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree in the administration of justice. He completed his basic police training at the Ventura Police and Sheriff's Academy and also graduated from the FBI National Academy.