The Guilford community had the opportunity to vote for Officer of the Year in the Public Safety Office throughout the months of September through November. This year they chose Tony Easterling.Easterling won favor throughout the Guilford community in his past year and a half, beginning with his colleagues.

“Tony has a great personality and good rapport with students, staff, and faculty,” said Security Coordinator Keifer Bradshaw. “He displays excellent customer service and proactive communication skills.”

Easterling’s official title is Parking Enforcement Officer, but there is much more to his job. He helps with much of the locking and unlocking of buildings and doors around campus, as well as his normal paperwork in the office. Also, Easterling performs campus patrols for the general safety and security of the entire campus.

“I got real nervous one time when this campus security car crept up on me,” said first-year Shepard Lashley. “When the window rolled down he was just smiling and asked me how my vacation was. I’ve seen him a few times around on his beat and he’s a real nice dude.”

Easterling attributes his success to his personality, which he deems a perfect fit for his job.

“I am a peoples’ person,” said Easterling. “I identify with the students, I guess, because I have children that went to college and I know a lot of the things kids go through.”

Easterling considers his entire department worthy of the award, despite receiving sole recognition.

“My department is like a spoke in a wheel, from our director to our officers, plus the control booth and Gerald Boothby,” said Easterling. “Without these connections I couldn’t have made Officer of the Year, so that nomination really goes to all of us in the Public Safety Department.”

The Public Safety department has been Guilford’s in-house protection service since Jul. 31, 2003 when Guilford terminated services with the security agency Allied Security. Reginald Hayes, Director of Public Safety, took over at that time and has emphasized the department’s positive relationship with the community as a priority for Public Safety.

Easterling enjoys seeing the good his work does for students and teachers throughout the community and does not plan on leaving any time soon.

“It’s a good feeling to know that you can help someone in some way, sometimes just by greeting people with a hello and a smile,” said Easterling. “Sometimes people forget things and leave their belongings in places. If students come to our lost and found office to retrieve their belongings and you can see the relief on his or her face – it gives me a great feeling.”

“I wouldn’t normally say this, because I don’t usually like authority,” said sophomore Kellen Schollaert, “but he’s one cool guy and I’m glad he’s on campus.