Editor’s note: The following message was emailed to all students, faculty and staff on March 28, 2018.

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that Captain Alan Cavallo has agreed to serve as the University Police Department’s interim chief effective March 30. As mentioned in a campus email sent last week, Chief Peter Decena has stepped down to take a new position in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. SJSU will launch a national search for his successor.

Captain Cavallo brings to this interim role a great deal of professional experience. He is now in his sixth year of service to San Jose State, where he has overseen just about every facet of our police operation. He served as both the Operations Bureau captain (overseeing the Patrol Division, King Library security and emergency preparedness) and the Administrative Bureau captain (overseeing Investigations, Internal Affairs, Records, Communications and Parking Services). In addition, Captain Cavallo is a member of our cross-departmental Behavioral Intervention Team, and acts as our Clery Act compliance coordinator.

Captain Cavallo came to SJSU from the San Jose Police Department, where he served as a sworn officer in various capacities for more than 25 years. His assignments included Patrol, Narcotics Enforcement, Robbery Investigations, Traffic Enforcement motorcycle supervisor, Internal Affairs, Bureau of Field Operations administrative lieutenant, commander of MERGE (SWAT)/K9/Bomb Squad and commander of the Homicide Unit.

Captain Cavallo graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with a bachelor’s in criminal justice. Please join me in welcoming Captain Cavallo to his new role as interim chief.

Regards,

Charlie Faas
Vice President for Administration and Finance