Building Bridges: Jeff Smith’s mission to enhance campus security at NGU
Photo courtesy of Jeff Smith
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
Over the past two years at North Greenville University, Chief Director Jeff Smith has significantly enhanced the school by establishing a community between the security department, updating policies and ensuring a safer environment.
Before taking the position at NGU, Smith spent 29 years with the City of Greer Police Department as municipal police. After retiring, he applied for a position at NGU in the security department. Within a short time, he was hired. Next thing he knew, he was the chief director at the university.
Upon arrival, he saw that the campus police had a somewhat isolated relationship with the community. This urged him to prioritize community outreach. His goal was to make campus security more approachable, involved and transparent to students, staff and visitors.
Campus outreach became one of his number one priority as the chief director. To foster connections, Smith decided to drive around on a golf cart and intentionally stop and connect with students.
“Without being approachable and [students] not understanding what we do and why we do what we do, it’s almost like we’re on our own little island, and I’m not about that. I want us to be a part of the community just as much as we want the community to be a part of us,” Smith said.
This focus on engagement went hand-in-hand with major improvements within the NGU security department. In his first two years, Smith has updated 52 policies to make the school a better and safer environment.
These policies focus on areas like the use of force, uniform standards, body-worn cameras and daily operations. One key change was the overhaul of the active threat response policy, which is now in place.
One significant improvement was updating NGU’s outdated dispatch system. The campus previously used an off-campus dispatch center in Indianapolis, but Smith worked to create a partnership with the Travelers Rest Police Department to establish a local dispatch communication. This has improved efficiency and accountability, especially with mutual aid agreements for emergencies.
Also, the body-worn camera program was upgraded to a more cost-effective Motorola system, saving NGU funds while maintaining the same outcomes.
Smith’s top goal for the next one to three years is to continue to improve NGU’s safety. He plans on expanding the Genetech camera and access control system campus-wide to improve security infrastructure. He explained that a couple of the buildings on campus have this camera system, but he plans to install it on every building as soon as possible.
Along with updating policies and ensuring safety on campus, Smith is also responsible to hire and direct NGU’s security employees. He explained that this is a big responsibility because he aims to hire trustworthy and accountable employees who will engage and protect NGU’s campus.
“I have high standards. I’m very big on accountability, structure and discipline. It has taken time, but I’ve got a great team that I can trust. I’ve learned just as much from them as I hope they learn from me,” said Smith.
Although Smith has high standards for his employees, once they are on the team, Smith does everything he can to build a relationship with them and communicate that no matter what, he will always be there for his team. Rather than sitting in an office and instructing people what to do, he goes out and works alongside them.
“I’m a team player. I’m not one that sits off on the side and, you know, coaches from the sideline. I’m one of the coaches that’s out there on the field,” Smith said. “And I just hope that my guys know that no matter what, they can call me anytime. No matter what time it is.”
