Committee Delays Choice Of University Police Chief

Despite earlier optimism that they would be able to fill the post by the beginning of this semester. Harvard administrators have not yet chosen a new chief of University police to head up Harvard's trouble-filled police department.

Joe B. Wyatt, vice president for administration and chairman of the eight-member search committee, said yesterday the group is still weighing the over 300 applications it has received for the job, and will probably not begin to narrow the field of candidates for at least another month.

Wyatt, who predicted in July the post would be filled by early September, said the difficulty of reaching possible candidates over the summer caused a delay in receiving several applications.

"We cast the net reasonably widely for that job." Wyatt said, adding that the committee is "continuing to receive what we felt were good applications."

The chief's job became vacant April 1 when David L. Gorski, the former chief, resigned after a series of confrontations with the Harvard Police Association.

The union protested Gorski's attempts to reorganize the force, which it alleged had lowered morale in the department. It refused to bargain for its new contract.

Wyatt later appointed William A. Lee, a personnel administrator in the Department of Buildings and Grounds with no prior police experience, as acting chief. The union still has not signed a new contract.

Wyatt added that Lee's ability to cope with the problems of running the force allowed the committee more time for its search.

"Bill Lee is doing an excellent job as acting chief, so we can afford to do a thorough job," he said.

Wyatt also said the committee has not discussed the selection of a new chief with representatives of the Police Association.

Laurence F. Letteri, president of the union, could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, last summer he said the administration should consult, the union about its choice. Several other members of the force have repeatedly said they would like Wyatt to name someone from "inside the Harvard force" to the post.

Wyatt said the committee will consider both "insiders and outsiders", and will discuss the choice with union representatives "when it can productively do so."

Wyatt said yesterday that experience in dealing with unions is not the primary qualification the new chief should possess.

"But it is something that would certainly be of benefit, given our environment," he added.