At Virginia Tech, every team plays a key role in making campus a home for those who learn, work, and play here.  

Every evening, 365 days a year, a team of security officers works to ensure that the Virginia Tech community is safe and secure. As part of the Division of Public Safety and housed within the Virginia Tech Police Department, security officers are integral to having a thriving and secure community on our Blacksburg campus.

Unsung Heroes from the Security Officers team shared their perspectives on their work and the role they play in making Virginia Tech a safer and more vibrant community. 

What security officers do

Whether it’s walking through buildings to ensure they’re secure, helping with traffic during sporting events, or testing blue light emergency phones, security officers have it covered. The small-but mighty team is responsible for patrolling campus overnight, providing free jump starts or responding to calls when they’re needed, and assisting the Virginia Tech Police Department when necessary.

The security officers also support Virginia Tech’s Safe Ride program, offering rides from dusk until dawn to anyone who needs a safe ride home at night. The service is available to all community members, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. To access the Safe Ride program, download the TransLoc Rider app or call 540-231-SAFE (7233).  

In addition to their day-to-day duties, security officers provide assistance to the campus community and visitors. Security Officer Brinson Kinzer shared his perspective on the role that security officers play: “we work for the safety of all people on this campus.”  

During the weeks of welcome, the team noted that they are proud of their ability to support new students and their families as they move in. One team member, security officer Pendergast, shared this experience: “I know how it feels to be a freshman and be lost on campus without my family, so knowing that we can be a part of that, to help them, feels good.”

Security officer John Scherer wants anyone who needs help on campus to know “we are here to support and help them when they need us... it is just what we do every day we come to work.” Other officers on the team echoed this sentiment; security officer Pendergast shared that the best part of her job is being a helping hand to people who need it, and that she hopes that people won’t hesitate to ask when they need a hand.  

Security officers Nicole Pendergast, Brinson Kinzer, and Hunter Cochran sit in the break room in the Public Safety Building
From left to right: Security officers Nicole Pendergast, Brinson Kinzer, and Hunter Cochran sit in the break room at the Public Safety Building. Photo by Mikhala Stafford for Virginia Tech.

United for success

Covering a community as large as Virginia Tech is a team effort, and the security officers are definitely a team. Because they have different functions across the entire campus, it is critical that they can lean on each other for support.

The team reflected on the importance of collaboration for success; Kinzer shared that “leadership, patience, and teamwork” are the skills that shine the most on the team, and Scherer echoed this sentiment. He described the dynamics of the team, saying, “we always support each other however we can.” 

 What makes this team special? 

Security officers don’t just patrol; they also serve the community by being a friendly face to visitors, new Hokies, and other community members. They take great care to help the community, answer questions, or provide directions to visitors when needed. 

Scherer described the role of security officers as “ambassadors that help to shine a light on what it is to be a Hokie and serve our community,” which underscores the passion that he has for his role and the importance of the team in uplifting the community at Virginia Tech. 

Unsung Heroes 

Without the security officer team, campus would not function as smoothly and the community would not have the same robust, 24/7 support that helps everyone feel safer. Scherer shared the importance of the work the team does, saying “even though we are just a small part in the campus safety portfolio, we fill a large number of roles in doing so... Our job is to help keep all of our faculty, staff, students and visitors safe and our interactions almost always have a positive outcome.”

Virginia Tech Chief of Police Mac Babb emphasized the importance of the team to the community: "Our security officers are a key part of our overall security profile and make contributions every day to the safety of the Virginia Tech community.  The work they perform embodies the principles of service and provides a path for us to connect in a positive way with the students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

To learn more about the team, check out the Virginia Tech Police Department website.

Written by Mikhala Stafford, a graduate student in public health.