Profile: Alex Francis

In 2002, ECPD police officer Alex Francis started on his path to a career at Emerson, when he was hired as a Securitas security guard at the College. Seven years later, he was hired for a police dispatcher position in the ECPD. Then, in 2016, he attended and graduated from Massachusetts State Police Special State Police Officer Academy and was promoted to the role of police officer.

One of his main job duties is to respond to calls for assistance from community members. He works the overnight shift, so many of the calls are for medical assists, intoxications, and unsecured buildings. He writes a report for every incident that he helps with, and also writes reports for facility-related issues and alarms.

During every shift, he and his colleagues conduct patrols of campus on foot, by car, and by bicycle. They conduct routine checks of every building (except residence halls), which entails checking every floor for unsecured doors, leaks, intruders, and anything else unusual. After a check is completed, they call the police dispatchers, who log the time and any necessary information about the check.

In addition to his regular duties, Francis is a field training officer, responsible for training new officers. He informs the new staff on a variety of topics, including report writing, dispatching, Emerson policies, community policing, building checks, and radio etiquette. He is also a shop steward for the ACOPS union, providing union-related information to new hires and acting as a mediator in grievance situations.

Francis said that Emerson is a great place to work and he loves the community and the college environment. “Over the years, I’ve developed relationships with a lot of Emerson community members who have become close friends,” he said.

He was born and raised in Antigua and Barbuda. When he was young, his mother decided to pursue a better life for him and his brother, and they moved to the US. Francis graduated from South Boston High School in 2001 and attended MassBay Community College for a few semesters before his wife became pregnant with their first child. So, he had to put school aside and find a job, which led him to the Securitas position at Emerson.

He and his wife, Shakia, have lived in Taunton, MA, for the past four years with their children, Lexx, Alijah, and Ashaun. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball with his long-time friends. He also plays with his children and used to play pickup at the YMCA before the pandemic hit. He sometimes plays with his Emerson colleagues and noted that Josh Wingate always gives him a run for his money.

He also likes to play competitive video games, such as NBA 2K, FIFA, and Call of Duty. All of his kids play a sport, so that keeps him busy during the school year. Every summer, he and his family vacation in Antigua for a few weeks and spend time sightseeing, fishing, swimming, and ziplining. When he visits Antigua by himself, Francis likes to stay with his aunt so he has more of a “citizen’s” experience. Most of his family still lives there, and he said that when he visits, it feels like he never left.

Nancy Howell (Communications and Marketing)