After two years of working campus security at Taylor University, Robert Duplain traded in his radio for a gun.
He talked about becoming a police officer, Steven Bird, a sociology professor and Duplain's college adviser, said.
"He was interested in being a police officer for years," Bird said. "He wanted to make a difference. He liked doing things for people."
Seven months ago, Duplain, a sociology major, became a police officer at the University Police Department. He responded to a burglary call Saturday on North street, where he shot and killed student Michael McKinney. The Muncie police department is investigating the shooting.
Duplain and his parents, Lynette and Thomas, did not return phone calls. Several UPD officers declined to comment.
As a campus security officer at Taylor, Duplain worked security at basketball games and watched over campus buildings. Because he did not attend the police academy, he could not carry a gun, Jim Garringer, director of news and services at Taylor, said. He carried a radio in case he needed back-up, Garringer said.
"He was trusted with the campus master key," Garringer said.
He worked long hours in security, because that was the campus job closest to police work, classmate Adam Sparks said.
"That was what he wanted to do ? no doubt," Sparks said.
His freshman year, Duplain was known for his Eagle Scouting, Sparks said. To earn the title, Duplain upgraded the nature study and walking area of Stinson Elementary School in his hometown of Canal Fulton, Ohio.
"He was really into Eagle Scouts," Sparks said. "He was diehard with that freshman year."
His senior year, Duplain became a leader on the football team, Sparks said. Because of his size, Duplain played offensive line and tight end, Sparks said.
"He was a football player, so he was a pretty big guy," Sparks said. "He worked his tail off all the time."
Duplain graduated from Taylor last August with a B.A. in sociology. He would have studied criminal justice, but that major wasn't offered at Taylor, Bird said.
"He was a really good guy," Sparks said. "He went to a Christian school, and they try to get good people in here. He fit that prescription pretty well."
Bird said that Duplain was the kind of student he didn't mind seeing in his office. Most of their hour-long conversations, however, took place in the hallway.
"You can talk with people you find admirable and interesting for a long time," Bird said. "He was the kind of person that you could talk with and never check your watch."
Bird also described Duplain as patient and calm.
"Rob isn't going to take this lightly, knowing that he killed a man," Bird said.
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