For more than three decades, Chief Kevin Sharkey has answered the call to serve, including more than 27 years protecting the Slippery Rock University community as a member of SRU Police. When he retires Jan. 29, 2027, and signs off the police scanner for the final time, he will leave behind a legacy of service, a standard of excellence in law enforcement and a lasting impact on making Slippery Rock a safe and welcoming environment.
“What I enjoyed most was meeting people and watching them grow throughout the years, especially the students,” Sharkey said. “We have a low crime rate here with good, well-trained officers, but it’s most satisfying to know how our department made a difference in people’s lives.”
Sharkey joined SRU Police in 1999 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2001 before becoming chief in 2020. Throughout his career at SRU, Sharkey emphasized proactive policing, community engagement and student safety.
From his early work developing the University’s Rape Aggression Defense self-defense program with Lieutenant Wayne Cochran to maintaining a strong police presence at student orientations and campus events, Sharkey championed crime prevention and relationship-building across campus.
Having served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years, Sharkey drew from his military experience by advocating for student veterans on the SRU President’s Commission on Veteran and Military Affairs. He also helped expand therapy-dog visits to campus by introducing his dog, Sadie. His commitment to public service extended beyond SRU through his work with Lawrence County Search and Rescue, where he is certified in live searches and human remains recovery.
As chief, Sharkey established two priorities: professional accreditation and advancing campus safety through technology. Under his leadership, SRU Police earned full accreditation by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association following an extensive review of department policies, procedures, reporting, compliance and facilities. He also oversaw significant investments in campus security, including expanded surveillance cameras, mobile reporting technology in patrol vehicles and body-worn cameras for all officers. The department was among the first university police departments in Pennsylvania to transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System, ahead of a subsequent federal reporting requirement.
Sharkey also modernized the department’s administrative and operational practices, overhauling SRU’s Annual Security Report to improve its accuracy, accessibility and compliance with changing federal requirements. He expanded the use of digital technology in daily operations, making department policies accessible to officers in the field, transitioning parking enforcement from handwritten tickets to a scanning system and beginning a phased move to a cloud-based records management system. Additionally, he strengthened the department’s training capacity by developing in-house instructors to deliver required annual police certification training, improving efficiency and avoiding additional costs while maintaining professional standards.
“Everything we accomplished was a team effort,” Sharkey said. “I’m grateful to everyone in the department for their commitment, especially Beth Taydus for her work through so many transitions and Lt. Wayne Cochran for his leadership on accreditation and data management. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and wish the department continued success.”
A national search for a new police chief at SRU is underway.
“We are grateful for Chief Sharkey’s decades of dedication and his unwavering commitment to protecting and serving the SRU community,” said Carrie Birckbichler, SRU vice president for finance and administration, whose division oversees University Police. “Through his leadership, Chief Sharkey has established a high standard of excellence that will continue to shape the department for years to come. We thank him for all he has given to SRU and wish him a well-earned and fulfilling retirement.”
