From serving the citizens of South Carolina to the students of North Greenville University
C.J. Eldridge, Staff Writer
NGU’s new campus police chief Jeff Smith wants to carry out selfless leadership and connect with and be known by the students and staff of the university.
“It’s not about me, but what I can do to improve those that work under me. If I don’t strive to improve those subordinates to sit where I’m sitting at, then I think I’ve failed as a leader,” Smith said.
Smith began his tenure over campus security in November of 2022. But this was far from his first interaction with the school. He applied for the same position back in 2000 and would end up returning much later to finish his degree in Criminal Justice.
“I think it was at that moment that God started to plan for where I am now. If you were to tell me in 2018, or even 2020 when I first applied, that I would be the chief or director of security and safety at North Greenville, I would’ve told you you were crazy. This is not Jeff Smith’s plan. This is God’s plan, and He’s really blessed me. I fell in love with this University,” Smith said.
Smith is very people-oriented. He believes in community outreach and wants people to know who he is and that he’s involved. Most of his life has been spent serving others, whether that be his time in the Marine Corps right out of highschool or the almost 29 years he spent with the Greer Police Department.
He enjoyed his time at Greer getting to know the people he worked with and the community he served.
“I do miss it, but I do enjoy thoroughly what I’m doing now . . . We’re staying busy. I’m going to take something good and make it great,” Smith said.
Many of the school’s security policies haven’t been updated since 2010. Smith wants to bring them to where they match CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) standards.
Campus security has been actively building bridges with police departments around the area. If they have to come in for any reason, Smith and his team want to ensure that it isn’t the first time they’re seeing each other.
One of the biggest changes Smith wants to put through is acquiring better radios. The ones they have now only allow NGU security to communicate with one another, not to outside agencies.
“It’s almost like we’re sitting out here on an island,” said Smith.
With these better radios, campus security can get in contact with any emergency personnel in the state. The Travelers Rest Police Department is going to donate 15 new radios. They would normally cost $3,500 to $4,000.
All of these policies are being discussed by the security team. Smith believes that all of his men should be involved in these decisions so they can develop the best plans together.
Time and time again, Smith has mentioned his belief in community, about how he does not want people to just see campus security personnel as the guys who give out parking tickets or get on to students for not following the rules.
Smith said, “What makes me feel good the most sometimes is when I’m walking through and these students are hollering at me as I’m walking down the sidewalk, ‘hey Chief, come over here and get a picture with us.’ And I will. I mean, I love that. That’s how you build relationships. You build that trust. You build that legitimacy with one another.”
With everything he plans on doing with his time as campus police chief, Smith is no doubt in for the long haul. He can be seen walking along campus all the time. Students should keep a lookout for him and introduce themselves.
