Protecting a Time-Honored Tradition

Lieutenant Jay Jones has worked every baccalaureate, class day, and commencement since he started working for the Yale Police Department (YPD) more than 30 years ago.

This year, Jones was in charge of police operations, where he controlled vehicle traffic at intersections and pedestrian crossings.

Jones went to school to be a teacher and to work in corrective therapy. He taught for several years before transitioning into business at the World Trade Center in New York. However, Jones was always interested in policing from a young age. As a lifeguard, he enjoyed helping others and decided to pursue a career in law enforcement. He landed a position with Yale Police Department, left briefly to work for the New London Police Department, and returned to YPD.

It’s a great job. I get to help out a lot of folks. – Jones

Throughout his tenure, Jones has worked in various posts during Yale commencements. He has primarily been assigned to work the front aisle, where students meet their parents after the program. “The parents are excited about seeing their kids graduate,” Jones said. “The parents come from different backgrounds and other countries and want to see their children walk by them. The front aisle can be a very busy spot.”

It is common for students and parents to recognize Jones during commencement weekend because he has also been responsible for working during freshman arrival. He said the parents appreciate him and the other YPD officers for keeping their students safe as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.

Jones has had a lot of celebrity sightings working for YPD and commencement weekend. He said the list is too extensive to name, but he has met and assisted several former presidents, elected officials, generals, supreme court justices, actors, and singers.

“One of the most fulfilling experiences at commencement is to see a well-planned event end well for all parties involved,” Jones said. “The planning stage is immense and starts a year in advance, and the dedication and the professionalism of our police and security officers make it a great event to be part of.”