Our Guest—Tuesday, September 22
CHIEF ROBERT HOPKINS, USM POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Police Department at the University of Southern Mississippi works to provide an environment conducive to living and learning. This support starts from the time students have decided to enroll and continues through retention efforts and graduation. Traditional law enforcement operations are designed around the needs of students to lessen opportunities for them to become victims of crime or to experience other incidents that could impact their abilities to learn and grow. Providing non-traditional services allows the police force at Southern Miss to lessen the stressors that could occur outside the learning and living community. Evaluating efforts and services ensures that the department members are achieving their goals of providing safety and security to the campus community. 
Chief Robert Hopkins has served as the Chief of Police for Southern Miss since October, 2001. Prior to that time he served as a criminal investigator at Southern Miss, as the Assistant Chief of Police for the Hattiesburg Police Department, as Captain and Patrol Division Commander, as Lieutenant of the Detective Division, as a Patrolman in Hattiesburg, and as a Patrolman in Purvis. He has received numerous certifications, skills and awards. Chief Hopkins has earned recognition for training with the IS 800 National Response Plan and with the IS 700 National Incident Management System. His awards include a Special Service Award from the USM Alumni Association (2013), Student Activities Hall of Fame (2012), Outstanding Staff Award (2008), Gold Leaf Award for Outstanding Service to the campus community (2007), and an Award of Appreciation for Extraordinary Service in Response to Katrina (2006). Chief Hopkins is a licensed polygraph examiner for the state of Mississippi and he currently serves on the Forrest County Sexual Assault Crisis Center, as a Board Member for the Forrest County Emergency Management District, and as an elected Board Member for the Petal Municipal School District.