Department of Public Safety, Detective Sergeant
by Arielle Borkovich - March 17, 2015
For Tim Jacobs, a longtime Big Rapids-area resident, Ferris State University has always felt like home.
A Big Rapids High School graduate, Jacobs has found a permanent home in the community – an area that he and his family love.
Jacobs, a Ferris employee since 2000, earned his associate degree in Criminal Justice and completed the police academy at West Shore Community College in Scottville, Mich. Currently, Jacobs is a detective sergeant in Ferris’ Department of Public Safety. In this capacity, he is responsible for the investigation of all major crimes and to coordinate investigations between the police department and the prosecutor’s office and courts. Also included in his duties are crime prevention, emergency call response and assigning follow-up on investigations.
As detective sergeant, Jacobs handles the majority of on-campus felony-related cases. He also assists officers with investigations, maintains records and supervises day-shift officers and student officers. He also takes part in the Police Oversight Committee, the Parking Appeals Committee, housing staff meetings and the Behavioral Review Team. Previously, Jacobs served in the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department for six years and two years as a D.A.R.E. officer.
“I love my colleagues,” said Jacobs when describing what it is like working for DPS. “Everyone here is of high moral character and integrity. They are all good solid people, not only in their business lives, but their personal lives as well.”
Jacobs shares his beliefs on the importance of surrounding yourself with good people because those people are a representation of yourself. Knowing, as a third-grader, that he wanted to work in law enforcement, Jacobs enjoys mentoring service officers as well as helping and watching them grow, professionally.
“It’s important to know why you are going into this field and to go into this field for the right reasons,” he said.
As part of his passion for mentorship, Jacobs stresses to interested young people that it is important to learn as much as possible about law enforcement and to set up a ride-along with a local police department if that career path is being strongly considered. He also impresses upon interested young people the importance of personal integrity. Jacobs emphasizes that personal integrity is something to consider long before a person becomes a police officer. He noted that it is important to keep personal integrity in mind at a young age.
“My favorite word is integrity,” said Jacobs, who leads by example to ensure an ethical community around his workplace. “Actions always speak louder than words. It is important to be an example of someone who treats others fairly.”
Arielle Borkovich is a News Services student writer in University Advancement and Marketing.
For others featured in the Faces of Ferris series, visit:
https://ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/faces/