Hometown: Yanceyville, N.C.Hobbies: Motorcycle riding and chessEducation: Guilford CollegeMilitary service: U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Q: How long have you been the chief of police on this campus?A: I’ve been here since 1981, so 20 years.

Q: What are some of the past and recent trends of crime on campus?A: The trends of crime have changed greatly since I first became chief. In the ’80s and early ’90s, crack was a serious problem on this campus, as well as guns and violence. The reason for the heavy violence and use of guns on campus was due to the use of crack. The ones that were using the drugs were the ones that were being violent and carrying guns. There was a time where we were confiscating several guns every day from students and non-students on this campus. The problem was remedied when we began to put more officers out on the street and patrol certain areas on campus. The most recent trends of crime on this campus today are marijuana and larceny. Marijuana has become a very serious issue, because so many people are using it. Larceny has always been a problem but it has increased in the past years.

Q: Due to the fact that A&T is an open campus, what percentage of crime on this campus comes from non-students? Are there any plans to make this campus a more enclosed one?A: I really don’t know the exact percentage, but a significant amount of it does. Crime on this campus happens really from students and non-students. For example, the shooting during homecoming was from a non-student. But most of the larceny cases are from those who do attend the university. We have started putting up gates to block off certain areas of the campus during certain times of the day and night so that crime in those areas would decrease, and it really has helped a lot this year. We have seen crime in those areas decrease.

Q: You mentioned that marijuana was a serious problem on campus. What are the consequences of being caught with it, or selling it?A: Well, the consequences aren’t as bad as they used to be. Before when you were caught with it, selling or doing it you were sent down town no questions asked. The university has since then established a judicial system that deals with these types of cases. If a student were caught with it or doing it, we would give him or her a choice of whether or not they want to go down town and get locked up immediately, or got through the university judicial system. Those who work with the judicial system can either suspend you, take away your housing, inform your parents or require you to do some type of community service. But if a student is caught selling it, it’s an automatic suspension from the university, we inform their parents and they face going down town and being charged.

Q: Why is it that crime on this campus or any campus is such a problem?A: It really has to deal with discipline. Most of the offenders today are young, inexperienced and need guidance. They aren’t bad people, they just make really bad decisions, and as a result of those decisions their lives are ruined. This university, as well as others, needs to provide help to these students and non-students, because that’s what they are asking for.

Q: With student enrollment increasing each year, how do you plan to protect each student effectively?A: We really want to get more officers, because as of right now, we have 49 officers, 28 of those 40 are sworn police officers, 14 are resident security officers. We have two investigative officers and parking enforcement officers. In total we have about 55 people in the department and we really need more than that to really protect this campus the way that we know how.

Q: Would you consider A&T to be a safe campus?A: Yes, I really feel that this campus is very safe, probably safer than the high schools or communities that some students have come from. Each campus has its problems but overall I really feel that this campus is very safe.

Q: What can students expect from the chief of police and the officers who try to make this university as safe as possible?A: They can expect to be treated fairly, with respect and helped at all costs. Law enforcement is really a small part of what we do. We are here to serve the people of this university. We are the main source of assistance on this campus and we are readily available to help each and every person that seeks our help.