After a number of problems with the student guard payroll at the Department of Public Safety, Student Guard Coordinator Sylvester Jones resigned from his post on Friday, Sept. 27.

His interim replacement will be Sgt. James Etheridge, who is currently the DPS Crime Prevention Sergeant. Etheridge previously served as interim Student Guard Coordinator from the beginning of the 2001-02 school year to mid-November 2001. The duties of Student Guard Coordinator include scheduling shifts, managing the payroll, hiring and firing personnel, imposing discipline and reporting to higher DPS officials.

Jones joined DPS as Student Guard Coordinator in late August 2002. Recently, Georgetown student guards working for DPS voiced complaints about delays and discrepancies in payment. A number of student guards interviewed by THE HOYA said they had not been paid accurate compensation for the number of hours they had worked and had not received a raise in wages in accordance with the number of weeks they had been with the department. Most wished to remain anonymous, and no DPS officers would comment.

According to a student source within DPS, Jones put limits on the amount of time students could work, making it impossible for them to earn extra money by working overtime shifts. He also eliminated the student supervisor position within the department. Students who had previously served in that capacity became senior rovers, a less structured job that was “not as well organized,” according to the source.

“He had some good ideas to make things work but they weren’t necessarily compatible with the university,” student guard Peter Treut (COL ’05) said. “They were more geared toward a professional work environment, not a student environment.”

Another student guard, who wished to remain anonymous, said Jones had not been receptive to student concerns.

“It wasn’t unusual to wait an hour to see him,” the source said.

Etheridge has been with DPS for about seven years. He previously served with the Maryland State Police Department.

Jones, Etheridge and Director of Public Safety William Tucker did not return phone calls placed Monday.