University Police and Public Safety names professional standards lieutenant

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) has named Juan Castro Jr. as the department’s first professional standards lieutenant, effective April 5. Previously, Castro served UPPS as a police sergeant at Penn State Harrisburg.

In this role, Castro will be responsible for providing direction for supervising and coordinating audits, investigations and management reviews relating to department programs and operations, and ensuring broad compliance with department policy and procedure. He is assigned to UPPS headquarters at University Park; however, the position will serve the 22 Penn State campuses where UPPS provides police services. 

“As a department, we continue to enhance our structure to better allow for transparency and accountability. Creating this new professional standards position is an important step in that process,” said UPPS Associate Vice President Charlie Noffsinger. “Lt. Castro has been a member of the UPPS family for some time, and we know he will thrive in this new role as he brings a solid skill set and professionalism to these operations.”

Reporting to Noffsinger, Castro’s work will include property and evidence inspections, Criminal Justice Information Services audits, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies requirement audits, and reviewing internal statistics for compliance or trends, such as use of force and arrest data. Castro also will conduct internal affairs investigations involving employee conduct. 

“It is critical for law enforcement agencies to evaluate its practices on an ongoing basis. This allows us to track how we are performing and alter our direction when necessary, in order to grow, and best serve our community,” said Penn State Police Chief Joseph Milek.   

Castro, who has served University Police for seven years, was promoted to sergeant in 2019. Castro earned a master’s degree in homeland security at Penn State and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration at the University of Phoenix. Additionally, he has 24 years of experience in emergency medical services and emergency management.