UW police chief to retire in 2008

Two major changes are coming for the University of Washington Police Department.

Under an administrative reorganization, the department will report to the UW Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life, effective Sept. 1. And UW Police Chief Vicky Stormo has announced that she will retire at the end of January.

University officials said neither move is a response to an on-campus murder-suicide in April and subsequent concerns about campus security.

Currently, the UW Police Department reports to Executive Vice President Weldon Ihrig, who is retiring this fall.

"It's something that the president and some others have been thinking about for a while," said Eric Godfrey, vice provost for student life. "It made great sense for a number of reasons for that unit to report to student life."

Like the student-life office, UW police work closely with residential staff and is involved with issues of crime prevention, student health and wellness, and safety in general, Godfrey said.

Stormo has been chief since 1999. Under her leadership, the university's crime rate has stayed relatively low compared with other urban campuses, and the department received national accreditation in 2005, said university spokesman Joel Schwarz.

The department, which has about 50 officers, is primarily responsible for patrolling the campus, and officers work with the Seattle Police Department to check nearby streets and student parties. The bulk of its incident reports are property-related.

Stormo, 52, said that after 28 years in law enforcement, she's ready to retire.

A national search for a new chief will begin immediately, officials said.

Judy Chia Hui Hsu: 206-464-3315 or jhsu@seattletimes.com