Employee Stories

Sergeant Terrance “Shaun” Harris

I began my law enforcement career as a jailer at the Denton County Jail. I also worked as a Deputy Sheriff and worked as a Senior Deputy at the Denton County District Clerk's Office-Felony Division before joining the UNT Police Department.

I got to know and befriend several UNT officers while working book-in at the jail and decided to pursue a career at UNT.  All the UNT officers who came into the jail were very knowledgeable and seemed happy to work there.

I have served the UNTPD since 2003 and currently work as a patrol sergeant. I was selected by my peers as Officer of the Year in 2005 and 2010, and have been the recipient of the UNT Star Performer Award three times.

My job as a patrol sergeant entails reviewing, correcting, and approving daily shift paperwork. Also, I complete evaluations, time keeping, counseling, monitor patrol officers, and monitor radio for all calls, especially major calls for response to the scene to assure proper handling of the situations among other activities.

The best part of the job is helping and protecting others. I love the closeness, the camaraderie, and vision of UNT PD. My greatest accomplishment was being blessed to become a UNT patrol sergeant and overseeing shift duties to assure that the best service is being provided to the UNT community. 

UNT PD supports my professional growth by providing continuing training so that I may grow my knowledge of the profession and to support my personal improvement. 

I love the UNT community, it is a close united family that loves and supports each other, while maintaining accountability and supporting learning for all. UNT PD adamantly works hard to keep the campus and all safe and protected, while the learning processes are conducted. UNT PD is a great place to work and I am so thankful that I am part of it!

Go Mean Green!

Corporal Emily Voelkel

I have served as a Police Officer at the UNT Police department since 2015. I currently work patrol and am working toward my bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice at UNT by taking advantage of the UNT tuition assistance for full-time employees. 

During my career at the UNT Police Department, I have received two Star Performer awards and was selected by my pears as Police Officer of the Year in 2017.

My goal is to obtain a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. It was an ideal situation to be able to attend UNT as a student, and serve the campus and the community as a police officer. I will be gaining law enforcement experience coupled with a bachelor's degree at the same time.  

My job as a patrol officer is to keep the campus community safe. Throughout my career as an officer here, I have obtained my defensive tactics certificate and help teach the TEST (Threatening Encounters and Strategies Techniques) classes that are offered to UNT students, faculty and staff. I have also received specialized training in many aspects of patrol and most recently obtained my Breath Test Operators Certification. This allows me to operate the Intoxilyzer to obtain a breath sample from those who consent after a DWI/DUI arrest. 

What I like most about my job at UNT PD is that I can be a helping hand for the community that I serve and am a part of. I love the UNT community. Our police department offers the best assistance to the community, going above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of those we serve.

Sergeant Nick Brauchle

The best part about my job is the service oriented mindset of the UNT Police Department and being a K-9 Handler. I have served with the police department since 2014 and currently work as a patrol officer and K-9 handler. Prior to my career in law enforcement, I was in the Army Infantry Airborne in the 1/509th. That is when I realized that I wanted to work for a police department that had the community's support, and UNT definitely does. 

I currently have an Intermediate Peace Officer License, am certified on the Intoxilizer 9000, a Field Training Officer, and a K-9 Handler. In patrol, we answer calls for service while patrolling the campus community. I train a lot with my K-9 partner, Keegan, who is a lab trained in explosives detection, and is a minor celebrity on campus. Check for him on social media - #K9Keegan!

My greatest accomplishment so far at UNT PD is being selected for the K-9 Handler position. It's challenging and very rewarding at the same time. A significant portion of my career here will be dedicated to this. 

The UNT community is very special and I love the support it has for the Police Department. On the flip side, the UNT Police Department works extremely hard at maintaining positive relations within the UNT community. It makes coming to work every day feel like it's not just a job. There's a saying that goes something like, “If you go to work every day and it doesn't feel like work, then you picked the right career or the right company.” That's how I feel here at UNT.
 

Corporal Riley Dixon

I began working part-time as a student employee at the UNT Police Department while I was going to school, and then, after I graduated was hired as a police officer recruit July 2017 and sent to the police academy.  I graduated from UNT with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and have been a commissioned police officer since January 2018.

I currently work 12 hour shifts patrolling the UNT campus to ensure the safety of the community. You will find me in my patrol vehicle, on foot, and even patrolling on bicycle as I have been certified to conduct bicycle patrol. 

While working as a student employee, I was able to learn a great deal about the department, UNT and the people that worked at the police department. I realized how great of an environment it was to work in. The support from the community and administration at the university makes UNT PD a very attractive place to work along with the focus of proactive community policing. 

The best part of the job is the variety of things I am able to do and the people I am able to interact with. Every day and every call is different and I love being able to help people in all stages and facets of life. 

UNT PD is exceptional in that its officers receive a large amount of training. The department strives to keep us trained on the most current and effective tactics, laws and procedures in law enforcement so that each individual officer is best prepared to serve the community.

The department challenges officers to never stop learning and to always hold the highest standards. The campus community and the police department should be a model to other communities and how their relationships should work. Having mutual respect and trust between the police department and its constituents/citizens is paramount to effective community policing.

Dispatcher Meagan Rodriguez

After I graduated from UNT with a Rehabilitation Studies degree, I started working for the parking office, which at the time, was part of the police department. I was looking to take advantage of the UNT tuition assistance to get my masters and I heard about the dispatcher job and it seemed like an exciting opportunity. I fell in love with the job and that's history.

I have worked at the UNT Police Department since 2013. In 2013, I was selected by my peers as the department Employee of the Year. Also, I have won the Star Performer award several times.  I am an Advanced Telecommunicator for which I have attended various classes through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to obtain. I answer 911 calls as well as regular non-emergency lines helping students, staff and faculty. I document activity for the officers and I check on them during routine stops making sure they are not out with anyone who is wanted or dangerous.

As a department we also work closely with the Denton Police Department with any issues that may be close to campus and monitor their radio for any event happening near UNT or that may affect the campus community. I love helping people regardless of how big or small the situation may be. I also love the excitement of the job and being able to help keep the officers and community safe.

I really love the UNT community, and have since I was a student. It's a welcoming place full of people who support you. I think the police department has a great relationship with the community and strives to keep it safe. I like the police department's openness and willingness to listen to what our community has to say and to work towards making this campus as great as it can be.