There’s a new sheriff in town. Lt. Col. Jim Humphrey, a 22-year veteran of the Army and Air Force, brings enthusiasm and experience to his new job as director of security at Lipscomb.
Humphrey served as a long range surveillance scout in the Army and a mission support officer in the Air Force. He said his military background and personality seemed to be a wise fit when senior administrators presented him with the offer.
“It rolled in pretty well with me and my personality,” Humphrey said. “I was intrigued by it, and I like a new challenge so I took it on.”
In addition to his new role, Humphrey will continue to work as the assistant dean of students and the director of veteran services.
When asked about how he manages all of these roles, Humphrey said it has a lot to do with time management and being surrounded by a host of additional leadership.
“I’m very blessed I have an assistant director to help me run veteran services in April Herrington. I have two assistant directors to help me run security in Patrick Cameron and Davis Cagle,” Humphrey said. “Without those folks and those key leaders, it would be an overwhelming challenge.”
Humphrey said he is comfortable in his new role as the director of security and that the state of security on campus is “very good.”
“Five years ago they had just a handful of people walking around with a polo shirt and a pair of pants, so the ability to enforce anything was difficult at best,” said Humphrey.
Campus now has a 24/7 dispatch center and around the clock coverage all year round by 24 patrol officers, staff and dispatchers. Four vehicles help the officers patrol campus, and well over 200 cameras serve as an extra visual aid.
The security measures do not end there. Lipscomb is in the process of arming 100 percent of its security patrol. Officers will go through training scenarios similar to police department standards to ensure they are well trained to react to any emergency on campus.
“One of the things I share with faculty, staff and especially parents is what we are doing in security to make the environment safe for their kids – which is the ultimate goal,” Humphrey added.