From the top of the hill on Montague Drive, Campus Police Chief Tommy Taylor watches over Samford. He’s been at Samford for six years and has spent 39 years total in university law enforcement. For Taylor, law enforcement is more than a job; it’s a calling.
Arriving in March of 2020, the first months of Taylor’s service at Samford were marked by the COVID pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns. The once lively campus Taylor had been hired to protect quickly became a ghost town as students and faculty were mandated to stay home. Although students and faculty were away, Chief Taylor and the campus police department never left.
Although his first months as Police Chief were spent in isolation, Taylor’s passion for serving and engaging with Samford students was not dimmed. Samford’s emphasis on student engagement was one of the main reasons he chose to come to Samford.
“One of the things that I enjoyed the most about working in law enforcement and being a chief officer is the engagement opportunities I get with students… That’s truly, to me, the best part of my day.”
Chief Taylor currently leads a campus cadre and speaks to incoming students during campus tours and Bulldog Days. Taylor said that maintaining a positive relationship and engaging with students can help them be more comfortable, encouraging them to reach out when necessary. Being servant-minded and having a servant’s heart is also very important to Taylor in regard to relationships.
“I think the way you leave people better than you find them is by being open, honest and transparent. And part of those encompasses the whole mindset of being servant-minded and servant-hearted, where you try to put other people first,” Taylor said.
When he is not on campus, Chief Taylor enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife and five children, reading post-apocalyptic thrillers and hanging out with his dog, Jack. Taylor also prioritizes staying both physically and spiritually active through swimming, which he does for an hour a day, five days a week.
“It’s quiet when you’re in the water and your phone’s not ringing and all those distractions are not there; it’s also my prayer time… just spending time with the Lord in a quiet place where I can just focus on what he wants me to hear and the things that I need to put before him as well,” Taylor said.
Before his career in law enforcement, Taylor served in the Army and the Army National Guard for 7 years. Taylor then attended the University of Alabama, where he received his degree in criminal justice. He also has a master’s degree in counseling and a doctorate in higher education administration.
Chief Taylor maintains a positive relationship with his coworkers at the Department of Public Safety. Laura Bennet, Operations Assistant Manager at the Department of Public Safety, stated that Chief Taylor has been the best boss she’s ever had.
“He is approachable and always encouraging. He is a busy man and truly never stops, but it does not interfere with his ability to make everyone feel seen and heard. He cares about the students, employees, and everyone here at Samford, and it shows,” Bennet said.
Lieutenant David Warren, a Samford University Police Officer, stated that Chief Taylor is a fine leader and Campus Police Chief.
“He cares deeply about employees working underneath his supervision as well as the entire campus community,” Warren said.
Staff Reporter
