By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
After serving for 28 years at Northwest Missouri State University, Clarence Green is retiring.
After coming to Northwest in 1996, Green became the Chief of University Police in 1997. He also served as the University's interim President for one year.
Green says he wanted to work at Northwest because it's an excellent institution, but he also has his own history in Maryville.
"It's where I went to school, all of my kids went to school, my wife, my son in law, as well as my future grandson will be attending school here, he's only nine months now and he doesn't know it but he will be coming to school here when he's old enough," Green tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And so, it's just a great institution."
Green says he served at a municipal police department prior to working at Northwest and that it was an honor to be called back home to serve the University.
Green says for him, law enforcement was a calling.
"It really just aligns with my purpose and lie in life of being someone that's always learning or seeking understanding, being a person that really helps others and organizations achieve beyond what they think is being possible, and being a selfless servant," Green explains. "And so, law enforcement really aligns for me at accomplishing all of those, so that's why I chose law enforcement."
Green, who is black, has also worked on national issues such as racial profiling with the US Attorney's office.
Green says working with the federal prosecutors was an excellent opportunity to work in a team setting, allowing him to provide an empathetic ear as well as an empathetic voice.
"To add to the conversation on how we're going to go about improving policing, and I believe we're still working at improving policing every day and we're going to work at that for the remainder of our careers," Green says. "That's going to be part of what we're all doing, is trying to improve and continuously seek out new opportunities and ways to do our work."
Green says the law enforcement community is in a constant cycle of listening, learning and adapting.
Green will retire from Northwest at the end of March.
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