Wolf taps Marcus Brown as homeland security chief

HARRISBURG - Marcus Brown, whose nomination to lead the Pennsylvania State Police was quashed earlier this year, has been tapped again by Gov. Wolf for a public safety post.

Wolf on Thursday appointed Brown director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, where he will lead the state's response to terrorism and infrastructure threats.

"The commonwealth must take every step necessary to protect its citizens from terrorist threats, and I am confident that Col. Brown's leadership and experience will be an asset to the commonwealth in this role," Wolf said in a statement.

Brown, 51, a former superintendent of the Maryland State Police, withdrew his nomination after Senate Republicans blocked his confirmation in June, but continued to serve as acting commissioner.

A vocal group of rank-and-file troopers had objected to Brown's wearing the gray state police uniform when he did not go through the agency's academy.

State GOP spokeswoman Megan Sweeney, in a statement Thursday, said "questionable ethics" in Brown's past still had not been addressed, but Wolf "decided to circumvent the Senate and appoint Marcus Brown into this executive position."

On Monday, Wolf nominated Tyree Blocker, a retired state police major from Southeastern Pennsylvania, as commissioner. The state troopers' association said it would support Blocker's confirmation.

For homeland security director, Brown would not face Senate confirmation. He is to begin that job Aug. 17.