Safety and Security Sergeant David Hunt knows everything about the ins and outs of the Dartmouth social scene. He also knows most students don't "get" everything about S&S. His suggestion for students? Don't let the title scare you. Underneath the uniform, he's just Dave.
How long have you been with S&S?
I've been here for 12 years. I grew up in Hanover, so I knew a lot about Dartmouth as a kid. I moved away and went into the Army for four years, then came back to Hanover and was a police officer. I had a really bad accident -- I got hit in the head with a sledgehammer, which took a few years to recover from -- and landed here. It was kind of a strange way to get here, but the past 12 years have been great.
So you've been on the other side of things at Dartmouth parties?
I have. Back in the mid '80s, campus was a lot looser than it is now. You could walk into any fraternity party and nobody would bother you. They only had three Safety and Security officers here at Dartmouth -- they called them Campus Police back then -- and they were old. We knew everything about how to get around them really easily.
How has S&S changed since you've been here?
We, as a department, used to be more aggressive, more confrontational. My first week here, somebody threw a bottle at me from the upper floor of a frat. That sort of thing never happens any more. We're much more approachable now. Also, Good Sam was around even when I started, but it wasn't nearly what it is now. A very high percentage, I think somewhere around 80 percent, of the intoxicated people we bring in now are called in by their fellow students. That's outstanding. Twelve years ago, that number was probably around five percent. I think we're coming a long way. I think students generally trust us.
What about your job would surprise students?
I think if somebody came and rode with us for a week, it would be a very eye-opening experience. S&S deals with things that people just don't realize we're responsible for. We investigate pretty much everything but homicides. We have a Rape Aggression Defense course, we have a gunroom, we have a marine boat that all of us are qualified to run. I did the first boat rescue. An intoxicated guy from White River Junction was down by the bridge "fishing" with a nine-millimeter. He shot a hole in his boat and was in really bad shape. We rode out, took his gun and got him to shore. He had a little bit of hypothermia, but survived okay. That was intense. People don't know that S&S has such a big role in the community.
After 12 years, are you ever still surprised by your job?
There are some times when I'm pleasantly surprised, I come across something and go, "Wow! Ahhhh!!" Two summers ago, I was on bike patrol over by Lord and heard a guy singing opera -- this was at around two in the morning -- singing opera very well. Great singer. I come around on my bike, and he's walking down Tuck Drive completely naked, singing opera. Don't see that usually, hopefully I'll never see that again. But it's those kinds of things. Last summer, I saw a huge group of seniors on bicycles streaking through Novack. Where else in the world can you go to work and just not expect anything? You can expect to not see anything one night, and you can expect to see everything the following night. You just never know.
What do you like most about your job?
I've got to tell you right out, there's no question -- it's bike patrol. It's kind of my "thing." I started it when I came here. It's grown from one rickety, old, rusty bike to six decaled bikes with emergency lights. Now, I usually ride about 3,000 to 4,000 miles a year. I can get from place to place really quickly, so I get to see a lot of stuff working nights on a bike. I like it because I go out and meet people from all over the world, and talking to them about their experiences kind of defines my experience here.
What do you like least?
Oh, definitely paperwork. But you know, I really don't like getting people in trouble. I can't sympathize with every person, but I'm empathetic, I try to do my best to help people out. If they deserve it and they're doing something really wrong, I have no heartburn about punishing them, but when it's just a simple mistake, I do. For instance, if someone's under 21 and an ambulance needs to be called, I have a hard time with that. With an ambulance comes police, then that person gets arrested and gets a record. I know how things you do at Dartmouth follow you. So unless it's a Good Sam, I really don't like dealing with intoxicated students who we have to get in trouble.
In general, how do you feel about students' consumption of alcohol? You must see a lot of bad decision-making.
I do, but the thing is a lot of Dartmouth students make great decisions when they're drinking. The only people we encounter are the people who are making bad decisions. So that's what, three or four people a weekend making really bad decisions? How many are out there that are making great decisions, just having a couple of beers with their friends? A vast majority. So I would say to the people who have drinking problems, get some help. But to most Dartmouth students -- keep up the good work! You guys work hard. I took a course here at Dartmouth and it just about killed me. I had a family at the time, but I know you guys work so hard. The whole motto, "Work hard, play hard" ... I've seen it. So I have no problem with the vast majority of students and their decision-making.
