10 August ICC alumnus Jason Dickinson returns to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student August 10, 2021 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College alumnus Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has returned to his alma mater to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. On July 1, Dickinson started his new job after spending 23 years working patrol and investigating. Dickinson said he applied because he wants to make a difference in the young lives of the students. Although he has never worked in the college environment, he wants to help or keep them on the right path and explain to them what a bad decision can bring. Dickinson earned two associate’s degrees from ICC, one in agribusiness and the other, in Law Enforcement Technology. “My first stint as a student was in 1993, and it was an adjustment straight out of a small high school. The best part was I met my wife of 25 years now in music appreciation class.” Dickinson’s second time as a student begin in 2015, when he enrolled to obtain a law enforcement degree. He was working full-time as an investigator with the Itawamba County Sheriff’s Department. He enrolled in online classes as a full-time student and had to take only the law enforcement classes since the academics from his first degree applied. Dickinson has received numerous honors during his career in law enforcement, including the youngest Chief of Police (Mantachie) in 1998-99. In addition, his career has included serving as Patrol Sgt. for the Baldwyn Police Department and Chief Investigator for the Itawamba County Sheriff’s office. Dickinson has earned the full-time Law Enforcement Certificate and every state teaching certificate. He is a National Certified Active Shooter instructor, State-Certified Investigator and SWAT Operator. He also has an NRA instructor license. Dickinson, who has always wanted to serve the public in some way, said that his job as ICC’s Chief of Police is an honor, and he takes very seriously the safety of everyone on campus, both members of ICC’s family and guests. “Being able to connect with the student body is important as well,” Dickinson said. “I want them to understand that I am here to help them in any way possible. I also want to discuss today’s issues and understand from both sides of law enforcement. Furthermore, I want to be able to walk around campus and have the faculty, staff and students see a positive role model with whom they feel safe and comfortable.” He said that although his hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Dickinson arrives at the office around 7:30, responds to emails and takes an early patrol around the Fulton Campus to “see what is going on.” He said he is constantly looking for ways to improve both himself and the department. “We have great officers and support personnel on staff, and they have helped my transition into the role as Chief easier.” ICC’s new Campus Police Chief said that although change is good, “I am not going to come in and change everything at once. You will see a new uniform scheme that will be put in place to help the officers stand out in the public and for better identification. I have what I call a ‘toolbox.’ I will bring in ideas from all over to see what best fits the needs of ICC Campus Police.” Dickinson, who currently supervises approximately 15 officers, said that he plans to hire more to provide better coverage for all three locations – Fulton, Tupelo and Belden, and maintain a constant presence. He emphasized that the safety of ICC will always be the top priority of Campus Police. “Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of everyone we meet because the students are why we are all here.” Dickinson said that he sees himself as a “people person. I always want to leave everything on a happy note. I understand that is not always the case. I will bend, but won’t break.” As far as relaxing, Dickinson likes to fish and hunt. “I grew up on a farm, so anytime I can run heavy equipment, I really enjoy doing that I love running my dozer, excavator, backhoe and tractor. When I’m on that heavy equipment. It gives me time to relax and, in some cases, work out frustrations by pushing over trees and stumps.” Dickinson is member of the East Main Church of Christ in Tupelo, and his law-enforcement related involvement includes the Southern Police Benevolent Association and the National Rifle Association, Dickinson and his wife, Amanda, who is an adult education instructor at the Belden Center, have two children, Lexie, a recent ICC graduate, and current ICC sophomore, Jacie. “As a parent of an ICC student,” Dickinson said, “I understand the feeling of letting your child go away from home for the first time. I know the worries they face. I want them to understand that I see every student as my own child. I am willing to help them in any way. I understand that parents might be hours away from their child and just have to lie down at night and not worry. I get it, and I understand. I will not be able to be everywhere at the same time, but I want them to know I will make sure my officers and support staff have their best interests at heart.” Related Articles ICC's Dickinson elected Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association president Itawamba Community College Campus Police Chief Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has been elected president of the Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association for a two-year term. Dickinson returned to ICC in 2021 to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. He previously spent 23 years working patrol and investigating in such roles as chief of police, chief investigator, captain patrol, commander special operation group, sergeant patrol and patrol officer. A graduate of Mantachie High School, Dickinson earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in Agribusiness and Law Enforcement at ICC. He has received numerous honors during his career in law enforcement, including the youngest Chief of Police (Mantachie) in 1998-99. In addition, his career has included serving as Patrol Sergeant for the Baldwyn Police Department and Chief Investigator for the Itawamba County Sheriff’s office. Among his certifications, Dickinson has earned the full-time Law Enforcement Certificate and every state teaching certificate. He is a nationally certified Active Shooter instructor and K-9 handler and state-certified Criminal Investigator and SWAT Operator. Dickinson and his wife, Amanda, have ... ICC formally opens newly-renovated Student Activities Center at the Fulton Campus Itawamba Community College reopened its Student Activities Center with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony, Aug. 14, at the Fulton Campus. “It is with great pride and excitement that we gather to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Student Activities Center,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “Just as with our recent residence hall ribbon cuttings at Monroe and Sheffield Halls, this is not just a physical transformation but a renewal of our commitment to providing a vibrant and supportive campus environment for our students.” ICC’s approximately 13,000-square-foot Student Activities Center, which opened in 1961 and the oldest building on the Fulton Campus, has had numerous facelifts over the years, but this renovation touched every aspect of the building, including a completely redesigned interior to maximize open space for seating and the addition of a new covered space on the back to provide students a place to dine in the event of inclement weather. Allen said that the new space will be called “The Yard.” The outdoor furniture will arrive soon and be installed with outdoor TVs. “Our ... Spring registration begins Nov. 15 for students not currently enrolled Students who are not currently enrolled at Itawamba Community College, including readmits and transfers, can register for the 2019 spring semester from Nov. 15-Dec. 19, weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in the Student Affairs offices on both the Fulton and Tupelo campuses. The offices are located in the David C. Cole Student Services Building on the Fulton Campus and the Student Support Center at the Tupelo Campus. Academic, career and technical, eLearning (online) and workforce opportunities are available in an extensive schedule, which includes both day and evening classes at Fulton, Tupelo and Belden. Financial aid is available. For more information, call (662) 862-8000 or (662) 620-5000 or email go2icc@iccms.edu. Work of 94-year-old Virginia Jackson, one of ICC's first students, currently on display in Fine Arts Center Gallery “The Gift of Life,” a collection of paintings by 94-year-old Virginia Jackson of Tupelo, is currently on display in the W.O. Benjamin Fine Arts Center Gallery at the Itawamba Community College Fulton Campus. The show includes Jackson’s acrylic paintings of landscapes and country scenes as well as two acrylic paintings by her granddaughter, Morgan Davis. Jackson’s first recollection of an interest in art was when she received a box of Crayola crayons at the age of five. She recalls coloring the embossed flowers on doilies (small napkins or decorative mats), but she didn’t start painting until the age of 91 when her daughter, Jill Jackson King, bought her a set of acrylic paints. She describes herself as self-taught and paints most scenes from memory. Most of her paintings are landscape scenes of farm life and “pretty flowers,” but she experiments with abstracts, also. She was born Virginia Anthony in 1929 in her family’s home outside of Tremont. Her father built their house and raised crops, cattle and hogs on their farm during the Great Depression. Growing up, she ... First students complete academic dual enrollment initiative Two New Albany High School students Jill Gafford and Joseph Fennell are the first completers of an academic dual enrollment initiative between the CREATE Foundation, Itawamba Community College and Northeast Mississippi Community College. According to the agreement, the students were selected on the basis of applications, which were evaluated by a joint committee of ICC and NEMCC personnel. Among the eligibility requirements were minimum overall 3.0 GPA on a 4.o scale on all high school courses and with successful completion of at least 14 core high school units or a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all high school courses and a minimum composite ACT score of 30 or the equivalent SAT score. Both Gafford and Fennell will receive postsecondary credit for their coursework. The initiative offered both health- and computer-related pathway options. Gafford and Fennell, who both chose the health-related path, completed Introduction to Health Professional I at Northeast, and Medical Terminology in Allied Health and Personal Community Health at ICC. They have enrolled every term since the MOU was established in ... Three years later...Neither ICC nor TPSD could have imagined magnitude of Middle College success Three years ago, neither Itawamba Community College nor the Tupelo Public School District could have imagined the magnitude of success of its Middle College partnership. The accelerated journey to simultaneously achieving diplomas from both institutions has grown significantly, according to Brittany Terrell, transition counselor. “When reflecting on the past three years of the Middle College program, I am proud of the success these students have shown. I have witnessed students come out of their shell and find confidence in their academic abilities. Not only have they blossomed academically, but they are heavily involved with ICC’s extracurriculars, clubs and organizations.” Jay Salters of Tupelo, who received both his Tupelo High School and Itawamba Community College diplomas last spring, was president of the Tupelo Campus Student Government Association, one of only 12 members selected by faculty and staff members to the prestigious Hall of Fame and a member of the ICC Indian Delegation and a THS Ambassador. He was invited into membership in both Phi Theta Kappa (ICC) and the National Honor Society (THS). However, he’s not the only example. Austin Acosta, currently a ... Comments are closed.