The following memo to the campus community concerning the UO Police Department was posted Monday, Feb. 29:

Colleagues,
 
Carolyn McDermed, chief of the University of Oregon Police Department, has announced her retirement.
 
Chief McDermed has been an important part of UOPD since first joining the department in 2008 as assistant chief.
 
UOPD has evolved significantly in recent years, and Chief McDermed has played a significant role in managing that change.
 
Effective today, we have asked Pete Deshpande to serve as interim chief of police until a permanent replacement can be found. Prior to retiring in 2015, Deshpande served as a captain with UOPD for three-and-a-half years. He has been a sworn police officer for more than 26 years, including 22 years as an officer and commander for the Eugene Police Department.
 
The University of Oregon Police Department was founded in 2012 to serve students, faculty and staff, and ensure the safety of the campus community. That commitment is unchanged and our officers strive every day to deliver on the promise in a way that is reflective of the values of the campus community.
 
In the coming weeks, we will be reaching out to our campus and community partners to ensure smooth service levels during this time of transition.
 
Please join us in thanking Chief McDermed for her service and for her passion for the University of Oregon.
 
Jamie Moffitt
Vice President for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer​​​​
 
André LeDuc
Chief Resilience Officer/Associate Vice President for Safety and Risk Services