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Liberty President Jerry Prevo recognizes campus security staff in wake of Bridgewater College shooting

In the wake of the fatal shooting of a police officer and a campus safety officer at Bridgewater College on Tuesday, Liberty University President Jerry Prevo took time during Friday morning’s Convocation to share condolences on behalf of the university and to show respect and gratitude for Liberty’s own police and security team.

Before Pastor Fred Luter delivered the main message, Prevo welcomed Ron Sloan, Liberty’s vice president of security and public safety, to the stage, along with Chief of Police Colonel Richard Hinkley and Major Marcus Tinsley, Deputy Chief. He also welcomed several Liberty police and security officers who stood around the base of the stage, around the concourse, and in the aisles. He recognized the more than 100 members of the police and security departments for their daily efforts to keep campus safe.

“I want you to look at each of these campus security people,” Prevo told the students. “They put their life on the line every day. How so? Last Tuesday at Bridgewater College, just 70 miles from here, a suspicious person was on the campus, and two of their security officers responded. They were shot, and they were killed. I want you to look at one of these police officers; you know, tomorrow they could not be here because they faithfully respond to situations here on our campus that may be a threat, and maybe is a threat. And I don’t want you to ever take them for granted.”

Liberty President Jerry Prevo alongside Ron Sloan, Liberty’s vice president of security and public safety, Chief of Police Colonel Richard Hinkley, and Major Marcus Tinsley, Deputy Chief. (Photos by Chase Reed)

As the students see officers around campus, he added, “I want to encourage you to go up to them and thank them for their service here at Liberty University as they protect you, protect all of us, and are available to help us when we have needs here at Liberty University. This is a great group. We show appreciation of course to all of those public officers who serve across the country, our military who are protecting our freedom, and we ought to show that appreciation for our campus security team here.”

Prevo then led the crowd in prayer, thanking God for the men and women He has given Liberty to serve here,  asking for a hedge of protection around them and for wisdom and discernment in their jobs.

Sloan also addressed the student body, telling them that the police and security departments have one purpose: “Our men and women are here to serve God by serving each one of you and keeping this campus safe so we can support what our founder, our beloved founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, started: Training Champions for Christ. We want to make sure that we have an environment where you can have fun, you can learn, you can study, and you can develop your skills for what God has called you to do, and I’m honored to work with these fine men and women of our police and security departments.”

He thanked President Prevo and the Liberty University Board of Trustees for their recent authorization of enhanced technology and resources to better serve the campus population, including $9 million for cameras, blue lights, emergency alert systems, and more tools to keep the campus safe.

Students gave the officers a standing ovation as they exited the arena.

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