When Chief Klay Peterson arrived at USC Upstate 18 years ago, then-Chancellor John Stockwell asked him what he thought of the campus police department. “Honestly, sir, not much,” Peterson says he responded, “But I can change that.”
And change it he has. Peterson’s previous policing experience, at two agencies in California, involved rebuilding departments, and he brought those skills to his current position. USC Upstate is one of only three campus police departments in South Carolina to have achieved national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Peterson, who is retiring this year, also is known for the entertaining stories he likes to share, not to mention the occasional dad joke. Here he reflects on some career highlights, including a memorable encounter on the slopes with a certain muscular movie star.
Where were you born?
Houston, Texas
What did you dream of being when you were a child?
Professional baseball player
What was your first job?
Gas station attendant (back when that was a thing!)
What’s a talent you wish you had?
I wish I had continued playing the piano.
What’s your favorite way to unwind?
Writing, listening to music, or watching BYU (Brigham Young University) football.
What’s a memorable experience from your career?
When I was the director of public safety at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California, my department assisted with President Ronald Regan’s interment at the Reagan Library which was just up the hill from our campus. I met a number of celebrities, including Nancy Reagan, Johnny Mathis, Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee, Tommy Lee Jones, Clint Eastwood and Gary Sinise.
What type of music do you enjoy listening to?
I have an eclectic taste in music, but my two favorite genres are classic rock and sacred music (different ends of the spectrum, right?!)
What’s your favorite vacation place?
Montana
What or who inspires you?
I am inspired by majestic mountains and landscapes, fields of green, beautiful lakes and rivers, colorful sunsets, and the smell of ocean air. The first time I saw Zion National Park in southern Utah, it took by breath away and I literally cried. I was overwhelmed by the beauty, wonder and magic of its creation.
Favorite TV or streaming show?
My favorite movie is “A River Runs Through It.” It is based on a book by the same name which shares much wisdom.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I met Arnold Schwarzenegger on a ski slope at Heavenly Valley ski resort in Lake Tahoe and told him it was his lucky day as I wasn’t going to beat him up. We both had a good laugh, and fortunately for me he was a good sport!
What five items (not counting pets) in your possession have special significance for you?
In no particular order (I don’t consider family members “items” so I am excluding them):
- I have my grandfather’s catcher’s mitt and mask that were made in 1897. They are particularly special to me, as he died before I was born, and they help connect me to him.
- An autographed photograph signed by Sparky Anderson (Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers) and Tommy Lasorda (Los Angeles Dodgers), both former major league baseball managers.
- An 1877 edition of the Book of Mormon
- A certificate that I sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (one time).
- A ticket stub for the Beatles when they performed in 1966 at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium. I was 15.
What’s something on your bucket list?
Visit the Holy Land (Jerusalem)
What’s your proudest achievement?
At one point in my career, I was the chief of police on a federal Indian reservation. I learned that many young native Americans longed to have careers in law enforcement, fire service, or emergency medical services. However, due to their entanglement with drugs, alcohol and domestic violence and lack of education, they couldn’t qualify for these positions.
I had a friend and colleague who was in charge of training for the sheriff’s department where I had previously worked, and we came up with an idea to help with this.
Our idea was to start an abbreviated public safety training academy for middle school and high school aged Native American students who would spend four weeks during the summer at the sheriff’s academy and learn what social trappings to avoid and the basic skills needed to qualify for employment in these fields. They also learned much about the perils and reasons for alcohol abuse, drug use, and domestic violence, which are so prevalent on many reservations.
We applied for and were awarded a grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The program ran for two years and each summer 50-60 youth from all over the country (including Alaska) participated in the program. Unfortunately, funding ran out after two years and the program ended. However, during those two years we witnessed a new hope and vision for the participants’ futures. I wish we had been able to track how many ended up in these careers, but we were unable.
What’s your guilty pleasure (food, music, TV show, movie, etc.)?
Mexican and Cuban food
Do you prefer the mountains or the beach?
When I was younger, the beach. I grew up in Southern California close to the beach and was a surfer boy. Today, the mountains.
If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
I would love to be at what my doctor considers my “ideal” weight. Hah!
What’s a favorite Upstate memory?
Oh, this is the hardest question, as there are so many. If a had to choose one, it would be that after working four years to qualify, our police department was nationally accredited in 2016 by CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. They are considered the gold standard in professional policing standards. Each year we are reviewed and audited by CALEA to ensure we continue to meet the highest standards in professional policing.
What are your post-retirement plans?
Finish writing my novel and some short stories I’ve been working on, visit grandkids and serve a mission for my church with my wife.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I played drums and vocals in a few rock bands when I was a teenager.
