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Highlands Today

Security After Retirement

A Group Of Retired Men Keeps SFCC Safe

Kathy Waters

Security officer Bob Kennedy checks a vehicle to see if it has the correct vehicle parking permit on Monday at South Florida Community College. Patrolling the campus parking lots is only a portion of what Kennedy does during his work shift.

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: December 18, 2007

AVON PARK — A group of retired men at South Florida Community College are proving retirement doesn't necessarily mean they stop working completely.

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, security officers patrol the Highlands campus.

The part-time officers come from a variety of professional backgrounds but now all have the same goal - keep the college safe.

"We do everything: write tickets, open and close buildings, open campus in the morning and close it at night and just keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary," said Walter Hassler, supervisor of security.

SFCC President Norman Stephens presented all nine members of the security team with the President's Award for part-time employees at a ceremony Friday.

"Our security guards are the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to make sure we have a safe campus," Stephens said.

Hassler said he was honored his team was chosen for the recognition.

"I am glad all my people got one, that way we all shared in the experience and that made it really nice," Hassler said.

Hassler, 81, started working at the college 24 years ago, when the campus had 10 buildings, and he has seen it grow considerably since then.

"We used to be able to handle the entire campus with one person," Hassler said. "Lately, we have been adding a building a year, so that just gives us more to keep track of."

Kevin Markham, security officer, said he enjoys spending his three shifts a week circling the scenic campus in a golf cart.

"I mostly enjoy my fellow employees, and this is a nice place to work," Markham said as he drove around campus Monday. "It's a very safe campus, and we have no virtually no problems."

Bob Kennedy, security officer, is a retired law enforcement officer who enjoys the part-time job as an opportunity to "get out of the house."

"It gives my wife some peace and quiet," Kennedy quipped. "I think she deserves that after 49 years of marriage."

He likes interacting with the students and faculty and meeting new people.

"I am always reminding students to lock their cars and not to leave their valuables on the front seat," Kennedy said.

Officers rotate through shifts, which cover all hours of the day, and each officer typically works three shifts per week.

Gary Sirrine, security officer, is going to transfer to the overnight shift soon.

"I've worked the night shift at other jobs before, and I enjoy it," Sirrine said. "It's nice and quiet."
Sirrine said security officers often end up doing odd jobs in addition to their regular duties.

"We are the ones who get called to scare off snakes and alligators," Sirrine said. "Plus the hogs are really destructive and uproot the grass, so when I see them, I chase them off with my cart."

Other members of the security team who received the President's Award include James Nelson, Ernest Barthel, Joseph Lucia, Larry Bucher and Melvin Browdy.

SFCC PRESIDENT'S AWARD RECIPIENTS
Full-Time Career Service - Katrina Blandin
Part-Time Career Service - Security team
Professional - Susan Hale
Faculty - Pam Hansen
Adjunct Faculty - Chris McConnell
Administrative - Anita Kovacs
Volunteers - Joey Sacco and Grace Sagona
Panther Spirit - James McBride
Overall - Judy Zemko

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