After nearly four years as Temple University’s vice president for public safety, Jennifer Griffin is stepping down at the end of the month. Her last day is June 30, 2026. Griffin was hired following renewed scrutiny of campus safety after a student was killed in 2021.
University statement
In a message to the Temple community, President John Fry wrote that Griffin “has led a period of significant change and improvement” and credited her with operational and technological upgrades, expanded partnerships and stronger community engagement. Fry said Griffin oversaw implementation of recommendations from both the Violence Reduction Task Force and a 2023 safety audit, and that the university will conduct a national search for her replacement. An interim vice president has not yet been named, the message added, according to Temple Now.
Staffing concerns linger
Griffin’s tenure was also marked by persistent concern over recruitment and retention in the department. An independent staffing study recommended hiring roughly 29 additional patrol officers and other ranks because the department lacked capacity for proactive policing, and The Temple News reported that the department lost dozens of officers between 2022 and 2024. Union leaders and some students argued that those staffing shortfalls undercut efforts to increase visible patrols on and around campus.
The Collington case and the push for reform
Griffin was hired in the aftermath of the November 2021 shooting death of Temple student Samuel Collington, an event that intensified calls for changes to campus policing and safety strategy. Reporting at the time detailed Collington’s death and the university’s immediate response to bolster partnerships with city and community groups, as documented by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
What comes next
Fry said he will work with Griffin in the coming weeks to identify interim leadership while a national search is launched. Local outlets noted Griffin’s departure and highlighted the debate over whether the department did enough to address staffing and retention during her tenure, as NBC10 Philadelphia reported.
Griffin's legacy
Supporters point to technology upgrades, reorganized units and increased community outreach under Griffin’s leadership, and Temple officials said many audit recommendations are complete or underway. At the same time, students and some public safety staff say recruitment and retention remain pressing issues, leaving Griffin’s tenure marked by both change and unresolved staffing challenges. Those mixed assessments were reflected in the university’s announcement, which praised her work while acknowledging ongoing priorities, according to Temple Now.
As the university starts its search, campus groups and the Temple University Police Association are likely to press for concrete plans on staffing numbers and retention incentives. Temple officials did not announce additional details on the search timeline or interim leadership beyond Fry’s message.
