By Jack Pinsky ’14, Contributing Writer
Although many students may see the Department of Public Safety (DPS) as a place to try to avoid, earlier this week I willingly ventured to the Public Safety office to interview William Strickler, the DPS investigator.
Strickler has been working at F&M for three years but has lived in central Pennsylvania his entire life as he was born in Lancaster and grew up in Berks county. As a high school student, Strickler was athree-sport athlete — playing football, wrestling, and running track at Central Catholic High School.
While attending college at West Chester University, Strickler played football for two years. He stated that playing football was more fun in high school, when playing the sport was a time to bond with friends, but, in college, it was treated more like a business. Strickler stopped playing football for his last two years of college, which allowed him to spend more time with his friends.
After graduating from college, Strickler enrolled at the Reading Police Academy in 1990. He was hired by the Reading Police Department upon his graduation from the Academy and worked there until retiring in 2011. After that, he took his current position at DPS.
Strickler said the main difference between working for the Reading Police Department and F&M’s Public Safety is the respect he receives at F&M.
“Kids coming to a school respect everybody working for them, for the most part,” Strickler said. “Students respect law enforcement. [Students at F&M are not] the guys that think we’re out to get them.”
His favorite part of working at F&M is the people. He says that all the staff members are friendly, and he even is able to have positive relationships with the students who come to his office for disciplinary reasons.
“I’d like to treat them like my own kids,” Stickler said.
Currently, Strickler stays in shape by running and taking a boxing class. Although he did not express any desire to actually enter a boxing ring, he still calls his boxing classes the best workout he’s ever had.
Strickler attributes the success he’s had in such different paths to various teachers’ support over the years. He also expressed advice he would like to give to F&M’s student body.
“Put the effort in,” Strickler said. “Strive to be the best person that you can. Just be the best you can be in whatever you do.”
Senior Jack Pinsky is a contributing writer. If you would like to nominate a staff member for a profile email jpinsky@fandm.edu.