Rockhurst High School named Jim Swoboda the new director of campus security before the 2025-26 school year began. Swoboda replaced David Loar, who served as Rockhurst’s first director of security from 2023-2025 and left to take a position at William Jewell College. Like Loar before him, Swoboda brings a wealth of law enforcement experience.
Swoboda is a retired captain of the Kansas City Police Department, where he served for 27 years. He worked in violent crimes, robbery, fugitive apprehension and information management.
“I retired from my previous job at KCPD in May of 2025 and became a Reserve Police Captain. I then resigned from my Reserve Police Captain status at the end of July, and started working at Rockhurst on July 28, 2025,” Swoboda said.
To get the job, Swoboda went through a rigorous interview process that featured more than 50 applicants. He then obtained his private investigator’s license and completed training at a police firing range with the firearm he now carries.
After that, he completed VIRTUS training, which is an education program on preventing child sexual abuse that is a requirement to work in many Catholic institutions such as Rockhurst.
“I initially applied for the job because my son Griffin Swoboda goes here, and I was very impressed with Rockhurst High School and what they have done to develop my son professionally and academically,” Swoboda said. “I wanted to be part of the culture of excellence that permeates here, and learn from that to grow as a person, like my son has.”
Starting his new role just three weeks before classes began meant Swoboda had to quickly learn the safety systems in place at Rockhurst. As the second person to hold the director of campus security position, Swoboda is trying to build on the foundation Loar created.
“Rockhurst has strong safety systems in place,” he said. “My goal is to continue improving our response plans, making sure everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.”
In addition to that, Swoboda prioritizes preventing danger from entering the campus and monitoring surveillance systems. He also coordinates with school administrators and faculty on security issues, manages traffic control and operates the school’s security app, RUVNA.
“My main responsibilities are keeping the students, faculty and guests of this school safe, while maintaining a positive environment of inclusiveness and trust.”
Swoboda believes vigilance is essential to school safety. Current safety protocols such as controlled access points, bulletproof materials and surveillance cameras help him keep the Rockhurst community as safe as possible.
While he’s still learning about the school and environment, Swoboda hasn’t instituted any policy changes, but he is utilizing a new tool: a Polaris RZR S 900 all-terrain vehicle that allows him to monitor parking lots more efficiently and manage large events, such as football and soccer games.
“It has been a huge resource for keeping the school safer,” Swoboda said.
With surveys finding concerns about school safety remain above average, Swoboda hopes to strengthen the security system by adding new AI features to alert faculty and staff of threats.
“I would like to eventually integrate more robust Al features into our surveillance camera system. These features have improved facial recognition and can detect and notify security if a person has fallen, or if an armed intruder enters the building,” Swoboda said. “The technology has come a long way in the last couple of years and is really amazing.”
Later this school year, Swoboda will attend a School Safety Academy put on by the Missouri School Boards’ Association to become a certified School Safety Specialist in the state.
