By Liz Babiarz
Like father, like son, the old adage says.
But Officer Ronald Thompson and Officer Ronald Thompson Jr., have taken this maxim to a whole new level. They both are tall, broad-shouldered men who carry themselves with confidence, but are quick to crack a smile. They have hints of a Queens, N.Y., accent, where they previously lived, but consider Atlanta their home.
And for each, safety in downtown Atlanta is a top priority, which is why they both serve as officers in the Georgia State University Police Department, the largest campus law enforcement agency in Georgia.
The elder Thompson, 46, has been with the police department for more than a decade. He patrols the campus by foot, looking out for crime and other disturbances while GSU students, faculty and staff members are likely sleeping. The night owl works from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
When he is leaving for the day, his son, Thompson Jr., 23, comes in to start his shift, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Traffic Unit. He drives on a Harley Dyna Glide motorcycle, cruising 25 to 30 miles a day around the GSU campus. His zone to protect is everything west of One Park Place as far as the Philips Arena.
With a focus on pedestrian safety, Thompson Jr., writes citations, attends to traffic incidents, answer emergency calls and patrols the campus, along with four other officers in the Traffic Unit.
“We concentrate on anything that can be a hazard to pedestrians, such as people running red lights, speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians in cross walks and failure to obey traffic signals,” Thompson Jr., said. “We’re also looking out for crime, like stolen property, fights, break-ins. We pretty much deal with everything. “
Thompson Jr., said he applied for a job at GSU because of his father and the opportunity to further his education. He has been an officer with the department for two and a half years.
“I used to always watch my dad get ready for work and think he made a difference,” he said. “I love what I do. Keeping students safe will keep them at school. Our job is very important to ensure students feel safe and are successful here.”
Being a university in a downtown urban area presents unique challenges for the Georgia State Police Department but they say they are prepared to handle any circumstance.
Georgia State University Police Department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing a range of services from crime prevention to emergency management service. It is comprised of 66 sworn police officers, 37 full time security guards, and 11 dispatchers and one emergency management director.
Georgia State police also work in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies such as the Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County Police Department and others.
Thompson Jr., says he is pleased to be contributing to Georgia Safe’s safe environment and is happy to have a close bond with his father. The two officers catch up each morning as they are changing shifts. His father also seems to enjoy their unique relationship.
“Ronny used to come with me to work when he was younger to see me do my job,” the elder Thompson said. “I’m proud of him. He’s doing very well in the police department. I might have to salute him one day.”
For more information on the Georgia State University Police Department, visit http://www.gsu.edu/police.