By Nikila Sri-Kumar
âNow imagine yourself in a dark box,â CJL Security Guard Allen Mullins said, chuckling. âNo, Iâm joking. But really, the most activity youâll see at night is probably some wildlife. Weâve got coyotes and big deer with the big olâ antlers that hang out by the chapel sometimes.â
Mullins said he does rounds throughout the night, listening for cars or rattling gates.
âWhen youâve been a police officer for a long time, nothings seems that weird,â he said. âHere itâs pretty low-key. Every once in a while youâll get a transient that you have to run off.â
There are usually one or two guards who stay overnight, but sometimes there is a greater need.
âIf the kids are planning on doing their senior prank or something like that, weâll have a lot of guys,â he said.
In between rounds and reading books online, Mullins studies for his criminal justice degree.
âA bunch of us guys study,â he said. âI just went from the Marine Corps straight to the Sheriffâs Department. I never got my degree.â
Joggers, who use the track on weekends and during school hours, also show up late at night.
âThere are a couple that I recognize, so I donât bother them when I see them because I know what theyâre doing,â Mullins said.
The guards, who take overlapping night shifts every night of the week, donât like to give out their exact hours.
âWe donât want the kids to know when weâre here and when weâre not,â Mullins said, quickly adding, âbut there is absolutely always someone here.â
