FACES OF GRCC

Grand Rapids Community College Police Sgt. Jesse
Heard patrols campus with a smile on his face.
He holds open doors, socializes with students
and lives with ‘to serve and protect’ as his life motto.
Little does the campus community know, he’s a former
high school all-star and All-American semi-pro football
player, and winning boxer from Grand Rapids.
Heard plays a major part in motivating students to continue
on their journey for success.
“He’s been a great help to our students and a great
resource,” said GRCC Admissions and Enrollment Coordinator
Francisco Ramirez. “You need mentors, like Jesse,
on campus to be a successful student and it’s awesome
that we have him.”
Heard said he’s enjoyed being more of a friend to
students than anything else. On his foot patrols around
campus, he’s constantly greeting students, opening doors
and being a friendly figure to everyone he meets.
“My favorite part of my job is talking to students,”
Heard said. “That’s why I work here. I like communicating
with the youth, learning a little more about what they do,
what they’re going to be doing, what they are studying
and helping to motivate them and keep them going because
they’ve gotten this far.”
Since he was young, Heard, 49, has always respected
law enforcement.
“I’ve always had an interest in law enforcement,” Heard
said. “I was in first grade and I got into a police cruiser
and the (officer) showed me all around the car … I was
like ‘Ah this is really cool, this is what I want to do.’”
Football was Heard’s dream growing up, and he held a
special place in his heart for it.
Heard played running back for the East Kentwood High
School varsity football team and played in the Michigan
High School All-Star Game after graduation. In the game,
Heard broke his neck, but it didn’t stop him from trying to
follow his dream of playing professional football.
“I went as far as I could in football,” Heard said. “I
ended up going to Ferris (State University) and then I
left there … so then I ended up playing semi pro football
with the Grand Rapids Crush. I was All-American in that
league.”
Heard went on to try out professionally for the Pittsburgh
Steelers, but was turned down because of his
previous neck injury.
“I finished out the rest of the week, of course I got cut,
but it was just a good experience,” Heard said. “I was glad
and still am glad I experienced it.”
Heard went on to box in the Michigan Golden Gloves
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