UPD Hearkens 'Green Light' Tradition In New Renovations

Today@Sam highlights the recent remodeling of the Tacket University Police Building:

The Sam Houston State University Police Department Building has recently undergone renovations that pay homage to a long history of dedication and service.

The department - which formerly shared its building with the SHSU Small Business Development Center - has expanded massively, allowing larger, much more open workspaces for all officers, dispatchers, and parking and transportation personnel.

Most noticeably, the building has been dedicated to Charles W. Tackett, a change that was authorized by the Texas State University System Board of Regents in 2013. Tackett worked 55 years in Texas law enforcement and retired from SHSU in 2005 after serving 32 years as the university’s director of public safety and chief off police.

In addition to the renaming of the building, passersby will notice green lights with a depiction of Gen. Sam Houston flanking the doors of the police department.

The tradition of green lights outside a police station goes all the way back to 17th century New York City. In that time, the “Watchmen” who patrolled the city carried lanterns at night with green glass sides as a means of identification.

When the Watchmen returned to the watch house after patrol, they would hang their lanterns on a hook by the front door to show people seeking help that they were inside the watch house.

Although the changes made to the department spell a bright future for such an integral service, the massive renovations took about nine months and posed a challenge for current officers.