"Because I Care"

7/17/2018

Since Jason Stone signed on as Collegiate’s safety and security director back in January 2012, he’s conveyed much more than an all-business, “just-the-facts-ma’am” persona.

Sure, during his six-and-a-half years of service (plus another year-and-a-half as contract security supervisor), he’s contributed expertise and experience to planning sessions and policy discussions, implemented guidelines and protocols, and done all within his power to ensure the wellbeing of everyone who has stepped onto the premises.

Above all, though, Stone is a quintessential “people person.” He enjoys his associations and connections, savors his friendships, and values the collegiality that his time at Collegiate has provided.

That said, on July 27 he’ll bid farewell. The following Monday, he’ll become security manager for all Chesterfield County buildings (exclusive of schools, courts, and jails). His responsibility will include venues such as the airport, water treatment plant, and police and fire stations.

He departs with fond memories and mixed feelings.

“Collegiate has been my second home, my second family,” he said. “Leaving will be hard. Some of the best people I’ve ever worked with are here. I’ve always been part of a winning team, and this is one of the winningest teams I’ve ever been part of.”

One recent afternoon, Stone, a Connecticut native, Eagle Scout, and Marine Corps veteran, shared his thoughts, observations, and insights about his tenure at Collegiate.

What are you most proud of during your time here?

The relationships I’ve formed. I’ve tried to put a personalized touch on security. I like to think that when I’m walking the halls and someone asks me to explain something, I’ve taken the time every time.

There’ve been many security upgrades from ID badges to a detailed plan and regular drills to technical improvements to the presence of Henrico County police officers. You’ve definitely heightened the community’s awareness of security issues.

Without the buy-in from the administration, I can suggest things all day long, but they’d just be ideas. God forbid anything happens here, but I want the people I work with, students, and parents to be able to say, “I knew what to do.” We’ve expanded Thor Guard (inclement weather warning system) to cover more of the campus. We’ve expanded the mass communications and speaker system. The access control system took a huge chunk of time getting doors, programming doors, and getting cameras in place without them being too intrusive. We’ve educated everyone on how it's used.

In case of an emergency, you can even lock all campus doors with an app. Correct?

Absolutely. When we had that lost gentleman on campus at the end of last school year, 45 seconds from the time we called “Lockout,” every exterior door was locked. While my team and I were looking for this individual, the administration was communicating, “This is why we’re on Lockout. Don’t worry.”

What’s your measure of your professional success?

In my book, there’re a couple of indicators. One is the technical part: the plan. The second is the acceptance piece. When I posted on Facebook that I was leaving, people posted some very strong words, strong emotions. That tells me that I’ve been successful with the security piece but also with the people I’m responsible for securing.

It seems that you view your job as winning the hearts and minds of our community.

Absolutely. I honestly think there’s only one way to do that: be genuine. You can’t be fake. You can’t pretend to care. We’re not here just to lock doors. Our community’s not naïve. They know when someone’s genuine, when you genuinely care about their children, and they appreciate that.

You can still wear your game face when you have to.

Right, but if I look back in the seven years, I’ve only really worked a few hours. One of those was that Halloween night (in 2013 when an outside technician inadvertently tripped the Signal Blue alarm resulting in a campus lockdown and prodigious police presence). For 20 minutes, I’ll respond to the nurse’s station to help someone who’s sick get transported. For 20 minutes last spring, we had an intruder on campus that we identified and addressed. Other than that, sure, I sat at my desk and wrote some policy, but I don’t call that work. I’m walking around talking to people, letting them know what I’m responsible for keeping them safe. Not because it’s my job. Because I care.

-- Weldon Bradshaw

Back