Kiawah Island Digest February 2017

February 2017

The Official Publication of the Kiawah Island Community Association

After his Navy career , Tony followed his uncle into the Virginia Beach police force , where he met his current wife of 25 years . “ She had a two-year college degree and we did some classes together , and I just kept going ,” he says . He earned his bachelor ' s degree in criminal justice with honors , then a master ' s in criminal justice . He has never left the world of education behind , beginning work on a doctorate in business with a concentration in criminal justice , graduating from a senior management institute for police , and teaching online criminal justice courses at several institutions . “ I need to teach online rather than in person because it ’ s challenging to commit to a certain day and time . I have to be available at all times should emergencies arise . Online teaching fits better with my job responsibilities because I can teach when I am available ,” he explains .

Tony Elder has been KICA Director of Security for barely nine months , but already he has weathered a tropical storm and related flooding ; managed a direct hit from a hurricane , the worst storm to affect Kiawah in 27 years ; impressed KICA members with his openness and responsiveness ; and begun to put his stamp on the community with a variety of security enhancements ( see sidebar on page 2 ).

Tony came to Kiawah with 31 years ’ experience in law enforcement , seeking a more family-oriented lifestyle than his management role with the Charleston Police Department ( CPD ) afforded him . From high school dropout to a master ’ s degree in Criminal Justice , from patrolling the Virginia Beach beachfront on bike to Deputy Chief of the CPD , and now as KICA security director , Tony ’ s upward climb in the world of police work has been steady and remarkable .

After dropping out of high school in 10th grade , Tony earned his GED and then entered the military at age 17 . He spent four years in the Navy and later served seven more in the Army reserves . “ I dropped out because my parents and older sister had done the same and no one had any expectation of me finishing high school . I missed so much of 10th grade that I would have had to repeat it , so I went to work in construction . But the military changed my life ,” he says . His years in the service taught him discipline , the need for structure in one ’ s life , and the importance of having goals and objectives .

Police work suited Tony from the beginning , and through a series of promotions he moved steadily up the ranks . “ I liked the excitement of the work and I was willing to do risky jobs ,” he says . A particular attraction of the law enforcement profession is that throughout his career , Tony has been able to “ switch around and try many different types of jobs . My niche became special investigations ,” he says . Early in his law enforcement career , Tony patrolled the beachfront in Virginia Beach on bike , responding quickly in places patrol cars could not go . “ It was fun . I got paid to ride a bike ,” he grins . He then moved into narcotics work , which he describes as , “ the best part of my career . I was making a huge difference in the community , and I liked the work .”

Charleston Police Chief Mullen , who also came to Charleston from Virginia Beach , was one of Tony ’ s training officers . Tony worked for him in narcotics , intelligence , and special investigations , and eventually became his executive assistant . Twenty-two years after Tony joined the Virginia Beach police force , Chief Mullen recruited him to Charleston . “ I asked him what I would be doing , and Chief Mullen replied , ‘ Does it matter ?’ I said , ‘ no .’”

Chief Mullen shepherded Tony into the management arena , which Tony describes as another “ life changing decision .” He elaborates , “ I learned more about servant leadership , that you are there to serve others - the people you lead , the organization , the community . Chief Mullen stressed that the Charleston police department is not there to give you a job ; it ’ s there for you to provide a service . Treat others as you would want to be treated and would want your family treated . He gave me a phenomenal example of great leadership .”

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