Reaves moves to ‘tech’ side of law enforcement
After working more than two decades in law enforcement, Southern Wesleyan University graduate Harold Reaves could have looked back on an exemplary career while preparing for retirement, but he knew God still had plans for his life.
Harold Reaves devoted his law enforcement career to serving the City of Columbia, S.C., ultimately becoming their Director of Homeland Security. He also served as Interim Police Chief.
“I’ve always made it a point in my life that when I retired, I wanted to go out on top of my game instead of being encouraged to leave,” Reaves said, adding that he started praying about making a change in his life. This led to his earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Southern Wesleyan in December, 2007.
“The Lord opened doors and I went through them,” he said. “The opportunity to work for Absolute Software presented itself.”
Absolute Software specializes in persistent endpoint security and management solutions for computers, laptops and ultra-portable devices. Absolute Software was founded in 1993 on the idea that individuals and businesses should be able to track, manage and secure their mobile computers, regardless of the physical location of the device.
Going through the business program at Southern Wesleyan helped Reaves transition successfully into the private sector. He sees his transition from the public sector as a logical progression that combined his years of law enforcement experience with his business training from Southern Wesleyan.
“Whenever you’ve worked in public safety, you always have that in your blood, but in a different way,” he said. “Being Director of Homeland Security, I used my computer to communicate with others, so it was a big transition to be able to get into the actual technology and forensics. It was a big challenge, but a great challenge.”
As a Law Enforcement Liaison Officer for Absolute Software in the Southeast Region, Reaves trains law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia on their LoJack and Computrace products. He is responsible for training law enforcement officers on the technology the company provides to law enforcement to aid in recovering stolen devices.
Reaves has seen rapid changes to technology in his three years working for the company.
“We’ve gone from laptops and desktops to bringing your own device to work,” he said, adding that they have moved into protecting and tracking tablets, iPads and smartphones. Absolute Software also uses geofencing, based on GPS technology, to alert IT personnel whenever computers leave a specific area of a facility or specific geographic area.
“We’re moving into an area of not only theft recovery, but prevention. We look at where our customers store and issue their devices,” he said. “We sit down with the customer and do complete crime prevention assessments to best manage devices without leaving our customers open to theft.”
Reaves was given the privilege of addressing graduates of the university’s adult evening program in 2009 and receiving the Presidential Citation. “It is a privilege to go back to the school that put you in the lane for success,” Reaves said of the honor.
“I gained a lot from my professors at SWU. All classes in some shape or form have helped me put together the puzzle. All of my courses had a big impact,” Reaves said.
Reaves continues to be active at First Church of God in Sumter as an Associate Pastor over Administration, working with Policy and Procedures, Christian Education and Security. He and his wife Diane will celebrate 31 years of marriage in September 2013. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Southern Wesleyan University has regional education centers conveniently located across South Carolina. Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ.