Nearly one year after Harvard Police Chief Paul E. Johnson announced he would retire, the University yesterday appointed a veteran law enforcement professional specializing in criminal investigations as chief.

Francis D. "Bud" Riley, Lt. Col. and Commander of the Division of Investigations and Intelligence in the Massachusetts State Police, will assume the post on January 2, 1996, according to Vice President and General Counsel Margaret H. Marshall.

"I am honored," Riley said in a telephone interview yesterday. "There were a tremendous number of people [who applied].... I was just happy to get the position."

"We are delighted that Bud Riley is coming to Harvard," Marshall said in a written statement. "He has an outstanding reputation in the law enforcement community and has demonstrated that he has the qualities of leadership, management and judgement necessary to build on the superb job done by Paul Johnson."

Reaction to Riley's appointment within the police department was positive.

"We are delighted with the appointment," Lt. John F. Rooney said. "I haven't had the opportunity to work with him, but I have worked with detectives assigned to his division. We have had an excellent working relationship."

"I think he has a lot of experience and a good track record, and it will be a pleasure to work with him," Rooney added.

Riley's selection was hailed by law enforcement experts yesterday as a gain for the University.

"I think Harvard has made an outstanding selection and [the University] will be well-served by his selection," said Perry Anderson, outgoing Cambridge Police Commissioner. "He is very well-respected and a professional person in the area of law enforcement."

"What will be a great loss to the Commonwealth will be a great gain to Harvard University," said Kathleen M. O'Toole, Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and a long-time colleague of Riley's in the Massachusetts State Police.

Others who have worked with Riley also said they thought he had many of the qualities necessary for the job.

"I have worked with Bud Riley for a number of years," said United States Attorney Donald Stern. "He is a real professional with great balance and integrity."

"I have always found him to be very honest and very bright and a real problem solver," said Elizabeth D. Scheibel, district attorney for Hampshire and Franklin counties and the president of the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association.

Race Relations

One of the most significant issues facing Riley in his new post is the question of improving how police officers handle racially sensitive issues.

Much of Johnson's twelve-year tenure was plagued by eight separate charges of racial harassment that stemmed from the police's dealings with students and from within the department itself.

During this search, administrators placed great emphasis in choosing a candidate with a strong record background in dealing with race relations.

"I have a track record [at the state police] of trying to diversify the work force," Riley said. "I think I have been successful in that."

"The principle of racial discrimination is not going to be tolerated, and I think that has been my history and my record," he said.

Others interviewed said they thought Riley can successfully tackle the issue of race relations.

"I think he is fair, an excellent listener, and I think he has the demonstrative capacity to reach out to people of different backgrounds and experiences," said Stern, who worked with Riley while Riley was in the state police and Stern was chief legal counsel for former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis.

"I believe that he has the skills to work with the complex population at Harvard to include blacks and others throughout the international community," Perry said.

And O'Toole cited Riley's status as a University graduate as one reason he will be able to deal well with student issues.

"I think he will have the unique ability to forge partnerships between the police department and the student body because he is a graduate of the Kennedy School and has experienced Harvard from that perspective," O'Toole said.

Riley received a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1990.

Frank Hartmann, the executive director of the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, said he taught Riley in a research seminar and a class on crime control and justice. "The work he did at the Kennedy School was first-rate," Hartmann said.

On the Agenda

Riley said he was not yet sure what changes, if any, he would make in the department.

"I don't have any idea yet," Riley said. "I haven't had time to look at the department. I am unaware what has been going on over there."

"I'm sure he'll bring some new and fresh ideas to the Harvard police department, but I don't expect any immediate changes," Rooney said.

Stern said Riley would take some time to survey the opinions of others in the department.

"He may bring to the table a great deal of law enforcement experience, but others close to the problem may be able to teach him things, so he will listen, absorb and try to take into account the views of others," Stern said.

Riley may also bring some new technology to the department.

"He has the reputation within the state police for being the manager that has most readily embraced technology." O'Toole said, adding that Riley is a strong leader.

"He's very professional. He's very compassionate," O'Toole said. "His integrity is beyond question. He is committed to whatever task he undertakes and is respected not only by those who work for him but among those his agency services."

Experience

Riley, who has six adult children, said he is excited about the job because he likes the idea of working in the University setting.

"I really enjoy being around young people," Riley said. "That's part of the opportunity of being chief".

The incoming chief said he views his job as one of playing the role of energizer.

"I view this as an opportunity to contribute to the University," he said. "The police officers there will be energized by my attitude."

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Riley was an officer in the State Police Bureau of Investigative Services from 1971 to 1987.

From 1984 to 1989, he was the president and chair of the executive board of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, which represents state police officers.

He served as commanding officer of the State Police Bureau of Staff Operations from 1987 to 1989, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Public Safety for Policy, Planning and Budgetary Analysis from 1989 to 1991 and Commander of the Bureau of Investigative Services from 1991 to 1992.

Marios Broustas contributed to the reporting of this story.