By MARY CHVATAL
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – After nearly four decades chasing suspects and cracking cases, Sgt. Matt Phillips found a new beat at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The veteran law enforcement officer traded high-speed chases for high-fives, joining the UNK Police Department and becoming a friendly, familiar face on campus.
Phillips began his career in 1979 with the North Platte Police Department, serving as a patrol officer for more than a decade before a promotion to drug investigator with a regional task force known as CODE.
During his time in Lincoln County, Phillips saw it all. From property crimes to homicides, no day looked the same. This kind of career can take a toll on a person both mentally and physically.
In spring 2017, after completing his medical and fitness testing, Phillips was told it was time for a break.
“Those were the worst three months of my life,” he said.
Although he was eligible for retirement, Phillips wasn’t ready to slow down. In fact, he and his wife decided it was the right time to permanently grow their family.
The couple already had four children of their own, and they were serving as foster parents for seven more kids. After two years together, they adopted the seven siblings.
“We decided it would be best for them if we adopted them because we had fallen in love with them, and they wouldn’t be able to stay together if we had not,” Phillips explained.
Three of the siblings are now grown, and the other four are attending school and participating in various activities. Supporting such a large family hasn’t always been easy, but Phillips and his wife wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s been challenging, but these kids each have a chance to be what they dream to be if they put forth the effort to do so,” he said.
Following the adoption, Phillips decided it was time for another change. Instead of returning to the police force in North Platte, he and his family moved to the Kearney area and Phillips pursued a part-time position with UNK.
“I sat down with the chief at UNKPD for about 30 seconds before I was hired on part time,” he said, “then I was bumped up to full time just four months later.”
The transition to a close-knit campus is exactly what he needed.
“I saw and dealt with a lot at NPPD,” Phillips said. “Coming to UNK and being able to work around younger students has been part of the reason it’s kept me fresh.”
His co-workers are happy to have another veteran presence in the department.
“It’s always a benefit to hire someone with so much experience like Matt,” said Ted Eichholz, assistant chief of UNK Police. “Even though UNK is a different realm of policing, knowing what to do and how to talk to people in this line of work is necessary.”
Interacting with people is exactly what Phillips specializes in.
He has a special connection with student-athletes on campus, as he’s coached a variety of sports over the years. Phillips is often one of the first people at Cope Stadium or the Health and Sports Center while providing security for home contests. He’s also one of the first to offer words of encouragement.
“One of my favorite things I get to experience, that I feel is unique to UNK, is the fist bumps, high-fives and connections I’ve made with student-athletes,” he said.
Because Phillips is out on campus so much, many students recognize him. They stop to say hi, ask for advice or just chat.
He also enjoys his conversations with students, particularly new freshmen, when he’s checking in on the residence halls.
“I was walking around one of the dorms one day when I found two guys in a floor lounge studying,” he said. “Two hours later, I walked out.”
These connections are an important part of the job.
“Matt is a friendly face on campus,” Eichholz said. “He gets out and talks to people, which in turn stomps on the stigma that police are meant to be scary. That really creates the family atmosphere that UNK is going for.”
Family is something Phillips truly appreciates, whether he’s with his wife and kids at home or building relationships with students and colleagues on campus.
“Most of us working for UNKPD come from other places, but it’s a family kind of relationship that allows us all to work really good together,” he said.
Whether he’s patrolling campus or cheering from the sidelines, Phillips makes a positive impact on the Loper community every day – the kind that deserves a high-five.
