It has been my honor to serve more than 26 years in law enforcement and four years in the U.S. Army, which includes my participation in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After working at Albany State University in Georgia for 11 years in two different roles — as the chief of police and assistant chief of police — I felt it was time for a change.
I began looking at other police chief opportunities in Georgia, as well as in other states, including positions at Clemson University, Virginia Union University and the Marine Corps Logistics Base. When a recruiter with executive search firm Spelman Johnson contacted me about the chief of police opening at SFA, it immediately stood out.
I applied and was invited for an on-campus interview. My wife, Michara, who is from Houston, accompanied me to Texas, which was a huge benefit, considering I had never been to the state. The drive from Hobby Airport in Houston to Nacogdoches was beautiful, and as we drove and more and more pine trees began to dot the landscape, I wondered how the campus would look in person. The scenery was appealing to us, and the farther we drove, the more at home we felt.
Our arrival on campus did not disappoint. The surroundings surpassed anything we could have imagined, and throughout the day, I was impressed with the school spirit and hospitality offered to me by both the university and Nacogdoches communities — it by far exceeded any welcome I had received elsewhere.
Visiting with the University Police Department’s staff members was exhilarating. I felt they, too, were ready for change, and the timing was perfect for us to share our expertise and grow the department together.
A few weeks later, I was offered the position at SFA, and although there were still opportunities pending with other employers, I did not need to wait to accept. SFA was an easy choice.
Before my January arrival, I hired Craig Goodman to serve as assistant chief of police. Since then, Craig and I have been working to expand initiatives on campus, including community-oriented policing. This concept involves officers becoming more up close and directly involved with the campus community. We want them to be visible on campus and interact with members of the SFA community. It also involves attendance at events where potential and enrolled students will be — events like Orientation, Showcase Saturday and athletic competitions.
In addition to working on initiatives that have the potential to positively affect the community, we are investing in the police department’s staff members by providing opportunities for them to excel and reach the next level in their careers. Professional development provides opportunities for them to attend conferences that relate to their particular job. Additionally, staff members who desire to become instructors or attend emergency management training will have opportunities to do so.
Lastly, I encourage all UPD staff members to work toward a college-level degree. Policing can be very stressful. I have known many people in law enforcement who burn out, and those holding a college degree have options for their future.
As my first year at SFA is drawing to an end, I am excited to begin 2020. I look forward to working with the campus community to further enhance the UPD while serving our students, faculty, staff and the rest of SFA’s stakeholders.