Chief Christopher Wilkinson’s calendar is full. On a certain Tuesday his schedule includes a succession of meetings with his supervisor, the parking committee and the Crisis Intervention Resource Team (CIRT). He also reviews reports, responds to calls and walks around the campus “just to make sure that everything’s OK.” The next day it starts all over again, and there’s always the possibility of a call about an incident on campus. All in a day’s work for the new SRJC district Chief of Police.

Chief Wilkinson, 51, has come to SRJC’s police district with 30 years of experience in law enforcement as the second chief of police in the college’s history. His predecessor, retired chief Terry Stewart, served as chief of police for 33 years. For SRJC Police District, a transition period is underway.

“So far it’s been very positive,” says Sgt. Dave Willat.

Wilkinson’s path to law enforcement was gradual. After graduating from high school in 1977, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and married his high school sweetheart, Ana, immediately after basic training a year later. At the end of four years as an active duty soldier, he served as an Air Force reservist and joined the police academy in 1982 to see if law enforcement was a career he wanted to be in.

“It wasn’t a passion of mine,” he said. “And here we are 30 years later; I stayed with it and I’ve had a fantastic career.”

Having grown up on an Air Force base and with his time in the military, Wilkinson said that the structured nature of law enforcement as well as the feeling of having a mission and giving back to the community are what made law enforcement an appealing career for him.

“You don’t do this for the money,” he said. “You do it because it’s a passion, you do it because you feel compelled in an honorable way to help somebody. It’s for public service, and I enjoy it.”

Wilkinson’s first job in law enforcement was with the now defunct California State Police, where he served as “governor detail” to provide security for Governor Jerry Brown during his last weeks in office, and also as “dignitary protection” to escort and protect officials visiting San Diego.

From the California State Police, Wilkinson moved on to the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Office of Investigations, where his career field focused on the investigative and administrative aspects of law enforcement. He said that the different and various cases he dealt with are what made the job “fresh” and exciting to him.

Throughout his law enforcement career, Wilkinson has held numerous and diverse investigative assignments. But his experience and qualifications go beyond his assignments: he was an adjunct instructor, as well as a firearms, defensive tactics and baton instructor. He also holds instructor certificates in emergency management and is a member of Disaster Resistant California Community Colleges (DRCCC).

Wilkinson has many fond memories of his 30 years of law enforcement experience. But one event that sticks out the most is when he saved a 2-year-old girl from drowning.

“She was in the deep end,” he said. “She was at the bottom of the pool, and I had to do CPR on her and revived her. That kind of thing is what’s rewarding. She’s probably in her 20s now.”

Firemen later told Wilkinson that the 2-year-old girl wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for him.

In the summer of 2008, he attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va, where he took masters degree level courses and was able to complete the “Yellow Brick Road” 6-mile obstacle course. He called it “a good run.”

“I was very blessed to be able to be there,” Wilkinson said of his experience in the FBI National Academy. “It was a phenomenal experience, I would do it again.”

Wilkinson underwent an extensive hiring process when he applied for the job of being SRJC Chief of Police, including an open forum with staff and students and a polygraph test. But he is by no means new to the position; his last job was with the Yuba Community College police district, where he served as police chief for seven years.

As chief, Wilkinson said that he is interested in teaching the public about safety, such as traffic and pedestrian safety, workplace violence, and personal safety.

“It’s a matter of education,” he said. “It’s just trying to remind someone, ‘Hey, I know you’re busy going to class, but be careful.'”

Wilkinson exhibits a contemporary management style, and says that he prefers a mentorship approach to his subordinates. An advocate of in-service training, he believes that letting others learn by themselves with him acting as a facilitator is the best approach to managing others. Still, he takes the time to listen.

“He makes it a point to get input from those of us that have been here for a while,” Sgt. David Willat said. “But he brings in a vast amount of experience from where he worked before and that’s a plus. He understands the issues, he’s very personable, and he gets all of us to participate in giving him feedback and suggestions.”

Wilkinson, for his part, likes the academic aspect of teaching others.

“I enjoy lecturing,” he said. “I just really enjoy being in a classroom with the students, and this job allows me to do that.”

Wilkinson does not intend to slow down with his law enforcement career and plans on being an adjunct instructor and finishing a Master’s degree. He is proud of his long law enforcement career, but says that his greatest achievement is being with his wife and his two children: son Loren, 26, and daughter Halley, 17.

Being police chief has its enjoyable moments; among his favorite aspects are walking around campus and interacting with students, faculty and staff.

“It’s refreshing to go out there and see everybody want to be here and knowing that it’s a safe campus,” he said.

After 30 years, Wilkinson said that he still has a passion for public service, and is eager to do it at SRJC.

“It’s all for you and the students,” he said. “I do this to make sure the students have a safe environment to get you to your classes so I can see you all walk on commencement day. I want to see you all graduate.”