Jerry Leigh

Director of Public Safety

I’ve been at Stony Brook for over 30 years now. I started as an officer and worked my way up to where I am now as the Director of Public Safety. On paper, the job is security. And although that is crucial, it’s more to us than just that. We don’t just sit in booths all day. We are out in the community building relationships and protecting the hospital and the university.

This type of role is in my blood. Fun fact: I was born in Scotland and came to the U.S. when I was six. My dad was in the military. We lived in Ocean Beach on Fire Island, where my dad was a police sergeant. His profession absolutely inspired my own. I grew up watching him work hard and save so many lives. So, I pretty much always knew I wanted to be in law enforcement.

In addition to what I do at Stony Brook, I’m also a volunteer firefighter. Along with many other first responders, I was on the ground in Manhattan during 9/11. That experience affected who I was both personally and professionally. I saw the hatred that came out of those devastating events, and I do my best to keep hatred like that out of this community – my community. I love working at Stony Brook. And I love what I do. We are a family here. I see people walk in and out of here experiencing both life and loss. Being able to be there for them in any case is the reason we do this.