Faculty Spotlight: The Campus Safety Staff

By Isabel Duarte

Amando Gomes has worked at Hood since December of 2011 as a Campus Safety officer.

Before then, Gomes worked in the prison system for 33 years as a guard.

He began his work in 1975 as a student intern for Montgomery County Detention Center, recording the inmates’ phone calls.

Gomes was hired the next year as an officer and he advanced the ranks over the years and retired as a captain in 2008.

In college, Gomes was original­ly studying to be a doctor, but then took a job with the detention center instead.

Gomes expressed the many dif­ficulties that came with working in the prison system, but he also ex­plained that he liked what he was doing because it was “challenging and different”.

He explained that working in criminal justice is lucrative.

“Career-wise, money is the best thing in the world,” Gomes said.

Gomes explained that the es­sence of security jobs requires you to “use your head more than your physical nature”.

Gomes knows a plethora of rid­dles and tests that enhance listening skills. He strives to demonstrate that it is necessary to pay attention to what people are saying in security jobs because inmates are often look­ing for ways to trick guards.

“If you choose a field [of secu­rity], the day you start feeling com­fortable is the day you should leave,” Gomes said.

Gomes believes that security and guard work maintains very good careers, and the best aspect of youth is being able to get education and work experience.

“Believe it or not, the best thing that you can do is get an education,” Gomes said.

While Gomes has been getting used to a collegiate environment, he appreciates the friendly nature of the Hood community.

To nominate another staff or faculty spotlight, email iod1@ hood.edu.