Feb. 02, 2000


Columbia's Security Management Team Strengthens With Promotions And Appointment

From left: John Murolo, James Conlon, James Lynch (retired), George Smartt and Ken Finnegan.

The management team of Columbia's Security Department has seen a series of promotions and a new appointment in recent weeks. Following the retirement of CU Investigator Jim Lynch, Assistant Director Ken Finnegan was assigned to lead university investigations. Assuming the position of Assistant Director of Security Operations replacing Finnegan is newcomer John Murolo, former precinct commander with the New York Police Department. In addition, Director of Security George Smartt has been promoted to Assistant Vice President for Security.

As Columbia Security's newest addition, Murolo brings to Columbia almost 20 years of experience with NYPD, where he was most recently precinct commander of one of the busiest precincts in the boroughs, the 114th in Queens. "It is a real statement about Columbia University Security that we can recruit such talent to augment an extremely strong team," said Mark Burstein, Vice President of Facilities Management.

Added George Smartt, "Jim (Lynch) is a hard act to follow. But we are happy to have another 80-hour-per-week person (Murolo) to help fill the void."

For Murolo, the choice to go with Columbia was an easy one. "The demands placed on you as a precinct commander with the NYPD make you choose between being a good commander or a good father," said Murolo, who has two sons, one a freshman at Fordham and the other a senior in high school. "This is a much slower, gentler place to be," said Murolo of Columbia. "It took me three minutes... no three seconds to consider the offer to come here. It was what you would call a once in a lifetime opportunity."

As commander of the 114th, Murolo managed daily operations in a precinct ranked among the top seven of Manhattan's 76 precincts for most major crimes, and he was responsible for more than 300 officers and civilian staff. Prior to his stint in the Queens, Murolo spent two years as commander of one of the safest precincts in Manhattan, the 26th (which includes Morningside Heights), an area known by NYPD officers as the "Eye in the Hurricane" or the "Hole in the Doughnut." When comparing Queens and Morningside Heights, Murolo noted, "We had more crimes in one day at the 114th than the 26th would have in a week."

According to Murolo, it is important to focus on areas where crime can quickly be reduced to improve safety in the area. For this reason, while under his direction, the officers of the 26th focused on Columbia, because students are most often the victims of crimes that can be easily avoided--in particular, property theft. In his new role at Columbia, he looks forward working with Columbia's security officers, utilizing his background in psychology (B.A. from Baruch College) and advising and assisting students to help make their time here as safe as possible.

"In my career, I have interacted with people when they were at the worst moment of their life, whether they were being arrested for a crime or were the victim of one," said Murolo. "Here, I will get to interact with people at a happier time in their lives. I look forward to getting back into this side of humanity."

After seven years with Columbia as Assistant Director of Security Operations, Ken Finnegan has replaced Jim Lynch as University investigator. Of his 21 years with the NYPD, Finnegan spent more than five years as a sergeant in the detective bureau, overseeing investigations of major crimes, and was a lieutenant in charge of operations for the 34th precinct.

In considering a replacement for Jim Lynch, who was as much a mentor as an investigator, Ken Finnegan was a natural choice according to George Smartt. "Ken is a person who can continue to perform the role that Jim helped to define," said Smartt.

George Smartt, who was recently appointed Assistant Vice President for Security, has headed Columbia Security since May 1994. Smart joined Columbia in 1985 following his retirement from the New York Police Department after 21 years of service. When he arrived at Columbia, he managed Health Sciences security operations prior to his promotion to Director of Security. Smartt has played a significant role in enhancing security on both campuses, raising awareness of crime prevention, and strengthening ties with other security operations in the community, such as the Morningside Area Alliance and the NYPD's 26th and 33rd Precincts. During his tenure, crime has substantially decreased on both campuses as well as in the surrounding areas.