Wendell Flinchum

After a six-month search for Virginia Tech's new chief of police, a 21-year veteran of the department was named to the position on Monday.

Capt. Wendell Flinchum, who has been acting as Tech's chief since Debra Duncan left the department at the end of June, is its new chief and director of campus security. Flinchum will oversee about 85 employees, including 40 sworn officers.

"It's effective immediately," Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said Monday. "As the interim chief, he becomes chief."

"I'm excited, very excited," Flinchum said. "I'm very proud of the department and proud of the university and I'm just happy to be a part of it."

Flinchum, 44, grew up in Christiansburg and Blacksburg and graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1980.

He joined the Tech police department in 1983 as a part-time officer and became full time in 1985. He received the Commonwealth Silver Valor Award in 1990.

In 2001, Flinchum was made a department commander.

His duties have included maintaining relationships with the university community and serving as a liaison with other agencies, ensuring compliance with national law enforcement accreditation standards, and managing some department budgets.

In 2003, Flinchum completed Professional Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond and the Commonwealth Management Institute. Last year, he graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.

Under Flinchum, the Tech department successfully completed its reaccreditation process with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies earlier this year.

Also this year, Flinchum received a commendation from the governor's office for leadership during the hunt for William Morva, a Montgomery County Jail inmate who escaped from custody Aug. 20 and is accused of killing two people during his flight. Morva's escape prompted officials to shut down Virginia Tech on the first day of school.

Of 93 people who applied for the chief's job, including veteran law enforcement officers from Missouri and Florida, three were chosen as finalists, Owczarski said. One withdrew from the search for personal reasons before a visit to Tech's campus could be arranged, he said.

Flinchum and the other finalist were interviewed by James Hyatt, the school's executive vice president and chief operating officer, and his staff, as well as a 10-member search committee and members of the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg police departments. Several senior university administrators who have regular interactions with the school's police department also met the candidates.

It's unclear exactly how much Flinchum will make as chief. When Duncan left after five years as Tech's chief, her salary was $92,898.

Neither Flinchum nor Owczarski could name the new chief's salary Monday afternoon.

Owczarski had said less than two weeks ago that a new chief could be named in early 2007.

However, he said Monday, "the choice was clear" and with Flinchum already in the department, officials were able to make an announcement quickly.

Flinchum said he was offered the position Monday.

"After concluding a thorough and comprehensive search, we confirmed that the very best candidate was already here on campus," Hyatt said in a news release. "He has the respect of his department, an excellent rapport within the university community, and strong relationships with other law enforcement agencies."

Flinchum said he hasn't planned any major changes for the department.

He said he will continue with initiatives started while he was interim chief, including reaching out to international students and some changes in the department's internal structure.

Duncan left the chief's position to take a job as the chief of the police department in Monroe, N.C. She was out of the office Monday and couldn't be reached for comment.