YSU names finalists for university police chief

By JUSTIN WIER

jwier@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University named three finalists for chief of the university police department Tuesday afternoon.

They are Shawn Varso, interim chief of the YSU Police Department; Stephen VanWinkle, captain with the Miami University of Ohio Police Department, and Jeffrey Scott, chief of the Notre Dame College Campus Police Department.

The position has been open since former Chief John Beshara was placed on administrative leave in April 2016. The university had questions about Beshara’s use of his work vehicle and said it would not renew his contract. He retired May 31.

YSU posted the job listing Feb. 15. The posting does not list a salary range, but Beshara made $86,700 at the time of his retirement.

Varso took over as interim chief when Beshara left. He has worked for YSU PD since 1996, initially on an intermittent basis and then moved up through the ranks. He was a lieutenant when he took over for Beshara. He also briefly worked parttime for Mill Creek MetroParks Police. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from YSU.

Scott became chief of police for Notre Dame College in South Euclid in July 2013. The school has enrollment of about 2,000 students, and the department employs seven full-time officers. YSU has an enrollment of about 12,800 students, and its department employs 18 full-time officers.

Before taking the role at Notre Dame, Scott served as incident commander for the NASA Office of Protective Services in Cleveland. He worked at five police departments in various roles in the years prior dating back to 1996.

Scott has a bachelor’s degree in public-safety management and an MBA, both from Franklin University. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2016.

VanWinkle began working at Miami University of Ohio Police Department in 1999. Miami has an enrollment of about 18,500 students, and its police department employs 24 full-time officers. In addition to working at Miami University, Van Winkle worked for four years as a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office from 1998-2002.

VanWinkle has associate and bachelor’s degrees from Miami University in criminal justice. He’s currently pursuing a master’s degree at Miami. VanWinkle also graduated from the FBI National Academy in June 2010.

The university will be having open forums with the finalists next week.

VanWinkle’s will take place Tuesday, Scott’s on Wednesday and Varso’s on Thursday.

All forums are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the board of trustees meeting room in Tod Hall.