Officers of the IM体育官网 Police Department have seen and done it all. With more than 250 years of law enforcement among them, these seasoned officers use their expertise to keep the IM体育官网 Poly community safe every day.
鈥淲e have no rookies here, so we鈥檝e got a lot of experience among us,鈥� said Chief Richard Holland, who is in his 34th year in law enforcement. 鈥淢ost of us are also parents, so we get it and really understand this community.鈥�
Jan. 9 is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and Holland said the 10-member police department is grateful to have become a vital part of the University campus.
鈥淲e have students that come by and give us cookies and drinks, and parents doing the same thing,鈥� Holland said. 鈥淵ou have to pinch yourself once in a while because law enforcement is not that way. Usually police put a Band-Aid on a problem and move on to the next call, but here we get to live a different experience.鈥�
Holland said the department has prioritized community policing and engaging with students whenever possible through events like Pool with the Cops, Pizza with the Cops, Coffee with the Cops, and Grilling with the Cops.
鈥淭he Ping-Pong with the Cops is my specialty,鈥� Sgt. David Last said. 鈥淭he students come and beat up on me, but it鈥檚 all fun. They get to see us in a different atmosphere and find we are more approachable than we might seem when we鈥檙e out walking around in an enforcement mode.鈥�
Holland said the department emphasizes education with efforts that include active assailant training as well as crime prevention and self-defense classes.
鈥淲e are here to help and support. We are an extension of the family,鈥� Holland said. 鈥淲e try to make sure everyone understands that we鈥檙e here for them, and what better way to support students than to give them a safe environment to actually learn in.鈥�
Last said he feels fortunate to serve the University community. He worked at the Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office for 20 years before joining IM体育官网 Poly.
鈥淭he biggest difference I noticed when I came here was everyone was smiling and happy to see you,鈥� Last said. 鈥淚t was very welcoming and as you get to know all the people here, you find out it鈥檚 genuine.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
