The Watchman on the Hill: Don Kabetzke Celebrates 25 Years of Service and Ministry

Long before the first student arrives for an 8:00 a.m. class, Don Kabetzke is already awake. His day begins before the sun comes up, not with a single cup of coffee, but with a full pot. In the quiet of the early morning, the Director of Campus Security spends his first moments in prayer, lifting up the administration, his staff, and the safety of the entire Dallas Baptist University campus.

For 25 years, Kabetzke has been a fixture at DBU. To some, he is the man at the gate; to others, the one managing parking logistics. But to those who know him, he is a minister behind a badge.

Long before he put on a security uniform, Kabetzke dedicated his life to the Church. He spent over 25 years in full-time ministry as a youth and associate pastor before arriving on University Hill. Following a life-changing event that led him away from full-time ministry, he found himself at DBU in 2001. "It was truly a God thing," Kabetzke reflects, believing he was God's choice for the job.

When he first arrived, the campus looked very different. The Ebby Halliday Center was just being finished, and a dirt trail lined the outfield of the baseball field. He recalls a time when Chapel was held in the Burg Center, and the current President and First Lady, Dr. Adam and Candice Wright, were just students in the crowd.

"We have grown not only in numbers but in land and buildings," Kabetzke says. "But in reality, the needs of the University haven't changed. We still serve the DBU Family and protect the assets...We just do it on a larger scale."

There is a common misconception that campus security is solely about writing tickets and blocking off parking lots. Kabetzke is quick to correct that narrative. He draws a distinct line between "policing” and "serving."

"Serving the campus community is about working with others on campus to ensure the faculty, staff, and students have the best experience they can in a safe environment,” explained Kabetzke.

And serving, he says, comes in all forms: changing a flat tire, teaching a young man how to change a flat tire, jumpstarting a vehicle so a student can go home, or simply listening to a DBU Family member and offering to pray with them.

"Policing is the part that Security does alongside the DBU Police Department," Kabetzke continues. "It's the methods of law enforcement and crime prevention to maintain the peace, safety, and order of the University community. The two work simultaneously if both are done correctly."

This philosophy of service-first security has created a unique culture within his department. Kabetzke works hand-in-hand with DBU Police Chief Chris Havens, blending the professional law enforcement capabilities of the DBU Police Department with the servant-leadership focus of Campus Security.

For two and a half decades, Kabetzke has operated under the banner of Ezekiel 33:7: "So thou, O son of man, I have made you a watchman unto the house of Israel."

He takes the role of "watchman" seriously. One of his most poignant memories involves the collaborative rescue of an abducted student years ago. Working tirelessly alongside the Grand Prairie Police Department and other agencies, the team saw the student returned safely.

"I got to see her marry and watch her kids grow up because of the people involved in her rescue," Kabetzke says. "I get a thank you note from her once a year."

Beyond the crises and the daily patrols, Kabetzke's impact is measured in the lives he has shaped. He views his student workers as mentees, many of whom have never held a job before arriving at DBU, much less worked in security.

"We are intentional about mentoring and teaching young men and women into the officers we need them to be," Kabetzke explains. "With the help of our seasoned police officers, we shape each student worker into a key player and team member to provide safety and security for the University Family."

He pauses, then adds with a smile: "I don't like to use the phrase 'teamwork makes the dream work', but in this case it does."

Over his 25 years, Kabetzke has watched more than 20 of those young officers go on to become police officers, firefighters, first responders, nurses, missionaries, pastors, and teachers.

When he isn't keeping the campus safe, you might find Kabetzke scouring local estate sales and garage sales, hunting for hidden treasures. But his greatest treasure remains the community he serves.

"Every morning I get to come across the bridge and I see the American flag, the Chapel, and the Christian flag, and I'm reminded that I'm blessed to work for the best University in the world," he says.

As he celebrates his 25th year, coinciding with his and his wife, Vira's 25th wedding anniversary, Kabetzke is shifting his focus. He has adopted a new life verse, John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

"I want people to be reminded that it isn't about me, but it is about Him and others first," Kabetzke says. "I hope those who work for me and with me teach the next generation to put other people first."