While Officer Mark Chambers has difficulty choosing a favorite author, he is quick to point out that he is not a fan of James Patterson.
“I don’t like him. I think he’s shallow,” Chambers said, lightheartedly.

Chambers is an officer for the Department of Safety and Security Services, and he is an avid reader—especially when it comes to history.
“Normally I read novels. I like anything that has to do with history,” Chambers said.
Long before Chambers started spending a lot of his time reading or working for Saint Louis University, he worked as a police officer for the United States Air Force and, most recently, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Chambers spent four years in the Air Force and then went on to spend 35 years with the SLMPD.  Chambers worked in the sex crimes/child abuse patrol and homicide units. Chambers is not afraid of the more difficult aspects of law enforcement, which is reflected in his tendency to work night shifts for the majority of his career.
“With the police department, at night, more interesting types of cases take place,” Chambers said.  Chambers continues to work the night shift at SLU, his shift often beginning at 11 p.m.  and lasting until 7 a.m. One thing can improve the night shift for Chambers: bike patrol.
“I like riding the bike. I think [University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.] likes bike officers,” he said. The bike offers more agility and maneuverability.
When he’s not zipping around campus on his bike, Chambers has been working to develop a new course to teach first responders how to interact with sexual assault victims. He will be starting to help teach other DPSSS officers in the next few weeks.  Until then, Chambers will go back to his reading and his slower-pace law enforcement career.