New chief no stranger to enforcing the law

Jim Kennedy has never enjoyed sitting behind a desk.\nAs chief of the Bloomington Police Department, Kennedy used to patrol with his officers. In the classroom, he captivates students with stories from his career. At home, he tinkers with classic cars.\nSitting at his large wooden desk, Kennedy rustles through a few papers. He has silvery-gray hair and dark, close-set eyes. He possesses a weathered police officer look -- intimidating, focused.\nKennedy's office is occupied only by his desk, a few small filing cabinets, and an American flag.\nKennedy, 60, was appointed IU's director of security and interim chief of the IU Police Department this summer.\nBut Kennedy is no stranger to law enforcement or to IU. He has been chief of the Bloomington Police Department, a deputy prosecutor and has worked for the coroner. And he's currently a finalist for the United States Marshals Service.\nKennedy's background and experience made him a natural fit for IU's interim police chief, said Terry Clapacs, vice president for administration and a longtime friend of Kennedy's.\n"It just seemed like a natural way for Jim to finish out his career at IU," Clapacs said.\nKennedy's career in law enforcement began when he graduated from IU with a business degree and enlisted in the U.S. Army. After a two-year stint in the the Army, he retired as a colonel and returned to IU to study law.\nKennedy practiced law in Hammond, where he also served as deputy prosecutor and chief deputy investigator for the coroner's office. His career at IU began in 1971. For the next 25 years, Kennedy worked for the University, taking a four-year break from 1996-2000 to serve as the Bloomington chief of police, deputy prosecutor for Monroe County and as chief deputy investigator for the Monroe County Coroner's Office.\nLittle did Kennedy know when he graduated 38 years ago that he would make such an impact on the law enforcement community, his peers and his students. \n"Many of the people that I now have in my command I watched grow up," Kennedy said. "They have stayed with us from when they were full-time students and part-time cadets, to come on as full-time uniformed officers through our academy here."\nKennedy co-founded the IU Police Academy in 1971. The academy has been recognized by the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board, graduating more than 30 uniformed officers a year.\n"At least one-third of the Bloomington Police Department comes from IU's academy," said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger. "The rest of the graduates go on to other levels of law enforcement."\nCapt. Keith Cash, a graduate of the IU police academy, began working for IUPD after he graduated.\n"I've known Jim Kennedy both as a friend and as a boss, and he is the type of person that everyone enjoys working for: goal-oriented, driven and lighthearted," Cash said.\nClapacs, who has known Kennedy for more than a quarter of a century, attests to his devotion to his job and peers.\n"He always seems to do the right thing," Clapacs said. "He can find the humor in almost any situation and make the work environment more enjoyable."\nIn 1996, Kennedy couldn't resist the opportunity in Bloomington. He took a leave of absence from his administrative position at IU to be Bloomington's police chief.\n"The cooperation I received from my staff, the personnel of the department, the backing of the mayor and the city council made being chief of Bloomington police one of the most enjoyable jobs I have ever had," Kennedy said.\nAlthough Kennedy has not always been part of the IU administrative staff, he has been a member of the teaching staff for the past 25 years. \nP320, Foundations of Criminal Investigation, has been a popular class at IU for years.\n"One of my great loves is teaching," he said. "I really enjoy the interaction with the students."\nKennedy paused for a moment, as if to reflect upon a job well done.\n"Life's thrown me its fair share of surprises," Kennedy said. "But I've realized the only way to make it is to have a sense of humor about things."\nKennedy is humble about his impressive resume.\n"I've never really looked back on my life in terms of accomplishments and failures," Kennedy said. "I have always just tried to concentrate on the task at hand while still keeping an eye on the future."\nOver the years, in searching for solutions to problems such as campus crime, drunken driving and underage drinking, Kennedy said common sense has always been one of his main concerns.\n"If everyone would just respect each other, then we would have a significant decrease in the amount of problems of any type today," he said.\nMost recently, Kennedy has become one of the three finalists for a position with the U.S Marshals Service.\n"The whole process started about a year ago," Kennedy said. "Senator (Richard) Lugar forwarded my name along with two others to the U.S. Attorney's office."\nThere are 94 U.S. Marshal districts, all of which are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.\nSomehow, with all the honor and prestige with which he has been presented, Kennedy remains focused and concentrated on the task at hand.\n"Sure, if I was offered this position I would have have a very tough decision before me," Kennedy said. "But for right now I have a job to do I will continue to do it to the best of my ability"