Kibler tends to campus needs
Security personnel R.C. Kibler writes down a report of a stolen license plate. Lately, there have been on campus several crime reports ranging from license plate theft to attempts at stealing classroom projectors.
Dick Kibler, the site supervisor of security at EMU, considers the best part of his job to be his interaction with students and staff.
A retired federal government worker, Kibler works the 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. shift. He is a registered enforcement officer and is responsible for supervising the other security guards. He reports to Eldon Kurtz, the director of Physical Plant, and to an area supervisor. Under Kibler's supervision are two other full time guards. Barbara Pydo works the graveyard shift from 12 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. Katie Wright works for Kibler and Pydo on their days off. Three other guards serve as substitutes if a full-time guard is ill or away.
Kibler considers his main responsibility "to protect the EMU property and the health and welfare of students and staff. I don't see myself enforcing morals. I'm here to protect students in as non-intrusive a way as possible." The main value he passes on to the other guards is, "Number one, respect the students and faculty and be as accommodating as possible."
Friendliness is also very important to Kibler, and he encourages the other guards to converse with students and staff during their shift. "At first, students are surprised by us talking to them," he said. "But later they get accustomed to it."
Daily tasks of the guards include keeping buildings secure by locking and unlocking them at specific times. During Kibler's shift he locks five different places five different times in the University Commons, and locks the Science Center and Seminary building three different times. Doors are locked on a schedule from 5 p.m. until 3 a.m. Merely an hour later, at 4 a.m., the same doors start being unlocked. EMU security is also responsible for patrolling campus and reporting any suspicious activity. They can get around in either their patrol car or golf cart. Kibler prefers to park the patrol car and walk around campus which enables him to meet students and staff.
If guards encounter a problem, they call the Harrisonburg Police Department. In addition, the guard must write up an incident report if an EMU policy is broken. If there is an incident of theft, guards are required to gather information, report to Physical Plant, and then inform the police. Guards are also equipped to issue parking tickets but only by the request of the dorm Resident Directors. If guards should observe a felony, they must call the area supervisor in addition to the police. Kibler is the only guard qualified to make an arrest, but has yet to encounter a problem of that extent.
Mostly, guards deal with routine incidents. As all the guards have total access to campus, many calls are from students and staff requesting help with lost keys or being locked out of their rooms. The other common call made to the security cell phone comes from parents concerned about their child's whereabouts. When a student has failed to call home, parents call security. Commenting on this Kibler said, "If you'd like to help us out, make sure your parents know where you are."
Security guards are also equipped with jumper cables and ice scrapers. They are also incredibly willing to escort a student or staff person who feels threatened.
Some interesting incidents Kibler has run into include killing a giant cockroach last year in Northlawn, discovering the missing pictures of EMU presidents in a parking lot last year, and having to ask a group of non-EMU students to stop smoking in Lehman parking lot.
Kibler most enjoys the opportunity to meet and get to know the EMU faculty and students. At Christmas he was invited to eat cookies with a group of students in Northlawn. He also enjoys meeting and talking with professors he finds working late at night. Often students have exchanged email addresses with Kibler and kept in touch after graduation.
Security guards work all year round, and the worst part of Kibler's job is when the students are on break. "All the buildings are so big and empty without the students here."
Dick Kibler enjoys his job at EMU very much. "I've made a lot of very good friends while working here," he said. "The students here are very well-mannered," he added. "I see the EMU students as my grandchildren."
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