Robert Griffin
AMERICUS — If you have ever driven through the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) you have probably seen Oris Bryant’s car cruising by. The white Chevrolet Impala, gold and blue accents, and emblazoned with GSW Police on the side, chauffeurs Bryant around campus. Bryant is the chief of campus police and public safety at GSW, and he starts each day with one thing on his mind: the safety of those students who attend the college. “I’m an outside chief,” Bryant said. “I don’t like to sit behind a desk too long; usually when I’m sitting behind a desk I’m doing paperwork. Most of the time I’m out and about checking on events, and what’s going on on campus.”
Bryant has 34 years in law enforcement and the past 24 years as head of public safety, and according to him, every day is different. “I get to work about 7:30-8 in the morning, check over the reports, and see if there is anything that needs investigating,” Bryant said. “Then, I go around to the administration, and Student Life, to see what is going on with them. I check with residence hall directors every couple of days to make sure that everything is going well in our residence halls, and try to establish a relationship with the kids on campus.”
Police work was never a number one priority in Bryant’s future, but a change of fate made him fall into the career. Bryant graduated from Fort Valley College in 1975, with a degree in management and a minor in accounting. When his father fell ill a short time later, Bryant returned home to Thomasville. “When I graduated in 1975, my father became ill, and since I was the oldest with a college degree I had to go home,” Bryant said. “After being there a little while, I decided to apply for a position with the police department. Believe it or not, people said I was overqualified for police work. The police department, and Mr. John Perry took a chance on me and gave me a job.” While working in Thomasville, Bryant helped out with the Junior Deputies program, as well as the local YMCA.
Overqualified or not, Bryant is a man who has made his job his passion. The best part to Bryant is being able to help a child in need. “You actually get a chance to really assist and help young people make that transition from wild and reckless to more conservative and focused,” Bryant said. “You get to see them mature from a child to an adult.” Bryant went on to say that the part of the job that troubles him some time is the students who cause trouble. “Sometimes, actions that you do as a kid result in some consequences, which you would prefer not to have to do, but it is part of the process,” Bryant said. Just because it is part of the process does not mean that Bryant is not a fair individual. “Even if we have to take criminal action against a child, I’m not going to leave the child; they still become part of our family,” Bryant said. “I still have kids who come back after they have graduated and see me, and it’s great to see them come back as a success.”
