A special search committee recently recommended three finalists from a pool of about 35 to serve as director of the UTM Department of Public Safety.

However, Joe Croom, who chairs the five-member search committee, said the committee is waiting to announce the three finalists until all three have been notified, but none had been notified at press time Monday.

From the pool of local and regional applicants, the committee interviewed seven individuals, including Jacqueline Bumpas, director of Public Safety at Fisk University; Ray Coleman, interim director of Public Safety at UTM; Dennis Joyner, director of Mid-South Training Institute; Jimmie Leach, president of Training Services Group; Deborah Perry, assistant chief of police at UT Knoxville; and Darrell Simmons, lieutenant detective at UTM.

The committee conducted the seven interviews over a 10-day period ending Nov. 21, and the committee recently chose the three finalists to recommend to Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Al Hooten.

Hooten will review the three finalists’ applications and make the final hiring decision, but no timetable for his decision is in place, UTM Director of University Relations Bud Grimes said

Previously, Croom said he hoped to send three to five recommendations to Hooten by Nov. 1.

The position requires a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, public administration or related field, with at least five years of experience in law enforcement supervision and a valid police certification. A master’s degree and university law enforcement supervision experience are preferred, the official listing says.

The previous director, Rick Hatler, resigned Aug. 31 after having a sexual relationship with a female Public Safety officer.

The director of Public Safety oversees a department of about 70 employees, including 11 commissioned police officers.