Officer Paul Speights sits with a relaxed posture in an IU Southeast police office. His large frame hangs over a relatively tiny office chair.
Speights, an avid University of Michigan football fan, recounts a rivalry game against Ohio State, where he tailgated every year.
“One time we played a game against a few Ohio State fans in the parking lot using a beer as the football,” Speights said. “It was fun because for a minute there we weren’t rivals. Just for a minute though.”
Speights, who has been an officer at IU Southeast since July, began his career in public safety long ago in his hometown of Ypsilanti, Mich., which is just outside of Detroit.
“I became a cadet at the age of 12 and have worked in security law enforcement ever since,” Speights said.. “I just love interacting with people.”
When he’s not patrolling campus, Speights concentrates on school and hopes to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in forensics before the end of the year.
“If I’m not working or doing school work, I just relax.”
If he’s not relaxing, Speights can be found golfing, in which he is admittedly happy with scoring anything below 100, or cooking.
Speights claims he cooks everything, but has developed a reputation for hisbarbecue.
Since moving to New Albany in 2001, he has married and feels living here is the best of both worlds.
“You get a little bit of the country life living here and the city life too, with Louisville right across the river,” Speights said. “This is also a good place to work, especially if you’re starting out in law enforcement. This is a growing school and a place to get your feet wet.”
In the future, Speights plans to work in a state lab doing forensics and or teach part-time.
Speights also has a jersey collection, in which he now has somewhere between 30 and 40 uniforms, ranging from autographed Tayshaun Prince and Josh Smith jerseys to a throwback Bo Jackson jersey.
“I have this Tom Brady jersey from when he played at Michigan. Brady is the quarterback, I’m a fanatic,” Speights says as he leans forward, clapping his hands together.
“I’ve been a Michigan fan through the ups and downs. I live and breathe it,” Speightssaid.
He doesn’t feel the same about the Buckeyes of Ohio State.
“I despise them. I don’t even like riding through the state of Ohio.”
Speights likes gangster movies like the 1990 film, “Miller’s Crossing” and he listens to all kinds of music, especially jazz.
“My all time favorites have to be John Cultrane and Miles Davis,” Speights said.
When asked what other people would say about him, Speights says, “I like to think I’m a go-to guy. If you need something, I’m here.” He stares with a serious look. “I’m fun to be around and I’m every man’s friend.”
By HUNTER EMBRY
Staff Writer
ahembry@ius.edu