What do you do when you are on campus and forget something in a locked building, your car battery dies, or you feel uncomfortable walking back to your dorm? The answer to all of these questions is to call the Southern Nazarene University Security.
SNU Security is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help with all sorts of problems. The law enforcement officers work in tandem with the certified security officers to ensure people are safe.
Officer Brett Beams has been a familiar face on the SNU campus for nearly three years. As a member of the SNU Campus Security team, he wants students to know that their department is more than just enforcement–it’s about connection, protection, and being available when help is needed.
“The jurisdiction is anywhere SNU owns property, including adjacent streets,” Beams explains. “That includes 39th, 42nd Street, all the way to Asbury and Donald. This covers the football and soccer fields, the horse fields, the Lab School, and the counseling center. Anywhere SNU owns, we can answer calls to.”
Beams is often seen walking around campus, whether at Starbucks or the cafeteria, intentionally making himself available to students. “I spend a lot of time walking around campus….in the hopes that if students have any questions or concerns, they will feel comfortable talking to me or my coworkers,” he says. “I hope they understand that we are here and are a full-fledged police department that can handle any concern.”
The department also maintains a strong working relationship with the Bethany Police Department. “So no matter the scale,” Beams adds, “SNU Security is ready, willing, and able.”
A big part of their work is built on relationships. “The students will always know more about what’s going on around campus than we ever will,” Beams comments. “That’s why it’s important to have that relationship–students need to not be scared of the police department. Everything is held in confidentiality. On top of that, there has to be a rapport. We aren’t going to know what’s going on, or how to fix it, unless we get that feedback from students. We’re changing daily to build that relationship between students and officers.”
Campus Security offers more than just emergency responses. “We unlock buildings for people who forget their keys,” Beams shares. “We do some traffic enforcement–like if people run stop signs or speed through campus, because that could become a potential hazard for students crossing the streets. We also do jumpstarts. Pretty much anytime you think you might need help or you’re in a situation where something doesn’t feel right, you can pick up the phone and call us.”
However, there are limits. “The one thing we can’t do is unlock cars,” he explains. “But if you’re injured and having trouble getting to the other side of campus for physical therapy, call us–we’ll take you there.”
Beams emphasizes that while some people only think of law enforcement as criminal in nature, campus policing is unique. “There’s a lot more public relations than actual handling of criminal stuff. Working on a campus is different from working in a city. Your priorities shift from enforcement to protection.”
SNU Security is also available in off-campus situations. “Maybe you were involved in an incident off-campus, like an assault, and you didn’t tell anyone before coming back to campus,” Beams adds. “Even if it didn’t happen in our jurisdiction, you can come up here and tell us what happened. We’ll get the problem solved.”
Above all, Beams wants students to know that “we are here to help you when you’re in need.”
Photo by: Katherine Baker