Police Communications Operator (PCO) Cornelius Campbell joined the department to help keep the community safe. “I want to use my voice and technical skills to make a difference,” he says. 

Since joining the department, Campbell has recently completed training and is learning what it means to be a PCO. “I’ve enjoyed meeting and working with my new team,” he says. “They have really helped me transition in this new career. We’re like one big family.”

PCOs are the voice you hear when calling UMBPD (410-706-6882) or using an emergency blue light phone on campus. PCOs manage a wide array of tasks beyond answering the phones — they also monitor cameras and building access, listen to several radios, dispatch police, schedule Safe Walks, and much more. 

“It’s been a challenge to learn all the new languages, lingo, and software that officers and PCOs use,” Campbell says. “I’ve overcome these challenges by listening, observing, participating, and asking questions.”

Campbell encourages new students and staff to network and make connections: “You never know who you’ll meet to help you on your professional journey!”

Outside of work, Campbell is a professional DJ. “My stage name is DJ Gemini,” he says. He also has a deep love for sports and is an avid gamer. Campbell says he also likes to make people laugh. He hopes to one day become a crime scene examiner.