For Baylor’s police chief, this isn’t a job; it’s a mission

Long before he became chief of the Baylor University Police Department (BUPD) in the fall of 2014, Brad Wigtil developed a love for the Baylor mission. His two children, Erin Wigtil-Faya (BA ’04) and Matthew (BBA ’11), both attended Baylor, and their experience left a lasting impression on him.

“I learned to love this university,” Chief Wigtil says. “I appreciate the faith-based foundation of Baylor and the caring community. It’s incredible. I thought if I ever had the opportunity to serve at Baylor, I’d really like to do that.”

That opportunity came in 2012, after a long career in Houston law enforcement. Wigtil spent 20 years with the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD), and 10 years with the Houston Police Department. At UHPD, he rose to the rank of assistant chief, gleaning along the way the importance of relationships and communication as he helped protect a large, urban university. He brought that focus with him to Baylor when he accepted a position as assistant chief four years ago.

“Community engagement is so important,” Wigtil says. “Our role is as the leading partner with campus constituents — faculty, staff and students — to problem-solve, identify safety and security issues and as partners, resolve those issues.”

When longtime chief Jim Doak retired in 2014, Wigtil was named as his replacement. The move coincided with a reorganization of Baylor’s Department of Public Safety, bringing BUPD, Fire Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Parking & Transportation all into one department to improve communication and coordination. Other changes included increased communication with local law enforcement agencies and on-campus offices and departments like the Title IX Office, enhanced technology, and other improvements designed to meet rigorous International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators accreditation standards.

“One of my deepest concerns is that each of our students is successful in all their endeavors at Baylor — that they become all that God intends for them to be,” Wigtil says. “The Baylor Police Department’s role in that is providing a safe, secure environment so that they can thrive and grow and be successful as they pursue their calling. I think we play a very large part in that, and that goal is something I don’t take lightly.”

What students notice most about BUPD on campus is the relationships officers have built with individual students and campus organizations — the fruit of the “community policing” model BUPD has put into practice here. BUPD officers attend dozens of on-campus meetings and events, and officers are required to get out of their car and interact with Baylor students and staff for a period of time each shift. Next week, BUPD will host the campus’ first National Night Out event for students who live on campus. It’s the kind of focus on students he would want for his own children.

“No matter where you are, good police departments have great relationships with their community, and that’s what we’re stressing,” Wigtil says. “Once you build those relationships, you build trust, and really understand the issues important to who you’re trying to protect. I believe our parents and students, when they come to Baylor, find security and standards that are as good as anywhere in the United States. Our goal is to make that even better, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Sic ’em, Chief Wigtil!