Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Pearl River Community College Campus Police adds seventh full-time officer

     POPLARVILLE - The Pearl River Community College Campus Police has added Sharie Collier to the PRCC Police Department this fall. Collier’s employment brings the number of officers on the campus to seven full-time officers and one part-time officer.
     Collier has eight years of law enforcement experience through service with the Pearl River County Sheriff's office as the Terminal Access Coordinator and at the Picayune Police Department in dispatch. While there, she received hands-on experience dealing with inmates and participating in search warrants where a female officer was required.
     Some of Collier’s duties at PRCC include issuing parking and college violation tickets, patrolling the campus, and room checks. According to Dr. Adam Breerwood, PRCC dean of student services, Collier’s presence is a valuable addition to the Campus Police.
     “The first priority in our police department is to help all of our students have a safe and positive experience while enrolled here at Pearl River Community College,” said Breerwood. “The addition of a female officer better equips our department to handle different situations that may arise. Officer Collier provides the capability to have more supervision of the female dormitories on campus, and I know that many of our students will feel more comfortable discussing a situation with a female officer. I believe she will create great relationships with all of our students, and I look forward to her success on our campus.”
     Collier is excited about her job at PRCC. “Working at PRCC is perfect for me,” said Collier. “I really enjoy being around young people, and I think being a role model for young people is important. One of my primary duties on campus is to assist with situations involving female students. In the past, male police officers have always dealt with room checks and campus violations dealing with female students. I think my presence on the campus allows girls an opportunity to feel more comfortable reporting incidences and crimes that they may have felt uncomfortable reporting to a male. I am not here just to deal with females, but if young women have a problem, I want them to know that I’m here.
     Collier is married to Captain Danny Collier of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.