Student Resource Officer Jerry Varner will walk the halls for the final time on Friday. Wingspan sat down with him to learn about his plans for the future.

Wingspan: What is your new job?

Varner: “I am going to be the Assistant Chief of Police in the city of Princeton.”

Wingspan: How did you find this job?

Varner: “I didn’t seek this opportunity out, it found me. A guy I know contacted me that I’ve known in the law force for a long time, he knew my background and where I come from, and the places before here where I was a supervisor, and he knew my reputation. He is now the Chief of Police in Princeton. He wanted my experience and asked me what I thought of the job. I told him I didn’t know because I have a great job here. We met and laid out what I would need and our vision.”

Wingspan: What are you going to miss the most?

Varner: “I’m going to miss the people. This is my eighth year here and we have turned into a family. I have people from here that message me in college and after college. Generations of people and families have walked into Liberty and they have become a part of my family here.”

Wingspan: What are you going to miss the least about Liberty?

Varner: “I’m going to least miss the drive. My commute is 41 miles so about an hour. I get 31 hours of my life back every month, there are things I couldn’t go to before because it was so far like kids award assemblies. Now with this position, I could go to my youngest girl’s awards and go eat lunch with her then go back to work.”

Wingspan: What are you most excited about for the job?

Varner: “I am excited for the ability to make a difference and for the challenge the job is going to bring. I am a marine and our core values and leadership principles are based on brotherhood, and family, I have a nature  to serve. It’s a department that I want to make amazing. It’s going to be tough, because it is a smaller town and they don’t have as many resources as Frisco but it is doable.”

Wingspan: Have you met the new person taking over your job?

Varner: “I have not met the new person. He has been hired and is a Frisco Police officer, I just haven’t met him yet.”

Wingspan: What do you want to say to the people you are leaving?
Varner: “Be you,make change, and always surround yourself with good people”