Show & Teal
Making a Difference UNCW Police Chief Frank Brinkley Leads Safety and Security Efforts on Campus Frank Brinkley took over the helm of the UNCW Police Department on March 27, 2023. He previously served as the police chief of UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. As police chief, Brinkley oversees a staff of more than 40 professionals dedicated to campus safety and security. Q. What led you to pursue a career in law enforcement in a higher education setting? A.
I had never considered law enforcement as a career until I worked as a student patrol officer at NC State, which was a student security guard program. We would do safety escorts, building lockups, blue light checks, and things like that. We were the extra set of eyes and ears for the police department on campus. It was rewarding, and people felt grateful for the interaction.
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Q. What excites you about your job as the UNCW Police Chief? A.
What I like the most is the sense of accomplishment you feel when you’ve made a difference in somebody’s life. It feels good when someone tells you that you made them feel safe.
Q. How do you make connections or develop relationships with students? A. You can talk about your philosophy, but they will only believe it once they see it in action. It’s about breaking down communication barriers and building a rapport before a crisis incident happens. It’s important to have the door open for trust to exist. To do that, you have positive interactions with students. – VJ
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Learn more: uncw.edu/police
