Shaw University’s new police chief, Vernon Siders Jr., right man, right time, right place

RALEIGH, N.C. – It was late October, unseasonably warm, and the uniformed man walking Shaw University’s campus and shaking hands with students was an unfamiliar face, yet extremely friendly.

“I want our students to feel that they can come up to any officer for anything,” said Vernon Siders Jr., who began hi s work as chief of the Shaw University Campus Police and Security Department Oct. 23 day.

“I’m trying to change the narrative of law enforcement with the public,” Siders said.

Siders said under his leadership, Shaw University police and security officers will work with an end goal of providing a safe learning environment for students.

“It’s important for parents to know that,” the chief said.

The safety of Shaw’s staff will be prioritized in order to facilitate the educational experience, Siders said. The university’s footprint isn’t huge, yet the safety key is understanding the patrol zones, he explained.

Not a guy who likes sitting behind a desk, Siders gives the impression he’ll know every blade of grass on campus.

“You’ll see me around,” he said.

Shaw University’s law-enforcement unit is a small force similar to what Siders was accustomed to in Davidson, where officers wore many hats. That can take a toll, so he’ll be paying attention to the mental health of his personnel. Siders is a spokesman for national nonprofit Mental Health America, so he’s always advocating for breaking the stigma associated therein. In return for supporting his officers that way, Siders said he’ll expect integrity and accountability from them.

“Chief Siders is the right fit for Shaw University for several reasons,” said Shaw University Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Ashton Cleveland. “He shows a clear understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that come with securing a campus in the heart of downtown Raleigh. He demonstrates a proactive approach to community engagement and expresses a genuine desire to build positive relationships between the police force, our students and the local community.”

Away from the job, Siders is pursuing a doctorate degree in criminal justice leadership. Long before Shaw University afforded him the opportunity to become a police chief, he was bent on teaching civil rights and criminal law at the college level. Shaw University was on his bucket list.

And here he is.

“I call it divine assignment, because I did not know at the time they were looking for a chief of police. I was looking just to be a college professor,” Siders said. “It is definitely a dream come true.”

Siders said the students were not standoffish when he was shaking their hands that day on campus.

He’s working to keep it that way.

Shaw University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the first historically Black institution of higher education founded in North Carolina and is among the oldest in the nation. The University was founded in 1865 by Henry Martin Tupper. Dr. Paulette Dillard currently serves as the University’s 18th President. For more information, visit: www.shawu.edu