Saint Louis University’s Department of Public Safety is dedicated to creating a campus environment that is safe and secure. Students use the department services on a daily bases but how many students really know the officers behind the department?
Shirley Beck, has been with DPS for eight years. Beck works the midnight to eight shift. As an officer her job is to respond to all calla that come in and monitor the security of the entire university and its property.
When monitoring the property of SLU Beck first does a parameter checked to make sure everything is locked and nothing is out of place. The second time she actually checks the insides of the buildings.
“DPS is here to protect the students. As long as you are on campus you are totally safe, when you get off campus it becomes a problem,” said Beck.
Beck enjoys her job at SLU and finds each day to be a new adventure.
Anthony Cotton has worked for DPS for 11 years. Cotton usually works the beat patrol. While on beat patrol (foot patrol) Cotton is assigned to patrol a specific area, checking buildings for undesirables and safety hazards.
Also he need to make himself visible in case anybody is in need of assistance.
Cotton decided to become a law enforcement officer after a personal experience. He decided that he would never be in a position where he was falsely accused again.
Cotton enjoys being able to meet and greet people on SLU’s campus. The most difficult aspects of his job is getting to know the students really well and then having to say good bye to them when they graduate.
Mary Dawson is known as a fix-post officer. Dawson is posted position is the Olive-Compton garage. She has worked a fix post for the past couple of years and has been with DPS for 13 years. At the garage she monitors the cameras of the Olive-Compton garage and assist students and others with information.
Dawson believes that if it weren’t for the students her job would be rather dull.
“DPS is your friend. Don’t ever be scared to come for us for any kind of assistance,” said Dawson.
Kimmett Dean has been with the department for four years. Dean is a bike patrol officer.
He would describe his job as to protect and serve the university and its students.
Dean enjoys dealing with the many different attitudes, personalities, and overall diversity of the SLU community.
He wishes that students and faculty would become aware of public safety and our positions here at the university.
Sherri Walker has been a dispatcher for the department for 4 plus years. Walker is a relief dispatcher and covers for the main dispatchers whenever needed.
Her job as a dispatcher is to receive and filter all calls for service whether it is an emergency or non-emergency.
Walker wants student to know that you should not hesitate to call and when you do call be as specific as possible.
Walker enjoys her job when it is busy because she has to tackle everything all at one time and it makes the day go by a lot faster. Walker doesn’t enjoy her job when students are constantly complaining especially about parking.
According to DPS they are here to provide assistance to the university and help you when their services are needed.
