After less than a year at the job, University of Colorado Police Chief Ken Koch is stepping down.

The university announced that Koch, who has been a police officer for nearly 30 years, will be temporarily replaced by CUPD Cmdr. Paula Balafas as the department seeks a permanent replacement.

“It has been an honor to lead and work with the many talented individuals who make up the CU Police Department team,” Koch said in a news release. “I feel like we’ve made great strides together to improve safety on campus, and I know that will continue.”

Koch came to CUPD in 2014 after working as a police officer in Arizona and New Mexico and assumed the chief’s position in March after then-Chief Melissa Zak was appointed to assistant vice chancellor of safety.

At the time of his ascension to the top job in the department, Koch said he would focus on recruiting and retaining officers and planned on finishing out his career at CU.

CU spokesman Ryan Huff said that Koch’s last day will be Feb. 12, and the outgoing chief will receive 12 weeks of salary as part of his retirement.

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