Falcon King

University Police Officer Travis Rixford had just watched the Netflix series “Tiger King” with his family when an idea hit: What if he dressed up as the show’s main character, Joe Exotic, to film a spoof video wishing graduating seniors well?

One fake mustache and rattlesnake shirt later, the idea came to life.

In a video posted to the university police Instagram, Rixford sings the words to a song he wrote, “I Saw a Falcon” – a take-off on “I Saw a Tiger” — at spots around campus. Inside the Bentley Arena. From the library steps. At the football stadium’s 50-yard-line. Atop the diving board at the Dana Center pool.

In several scenes, he sings directly — and emotionally -- to the falcon statue on campus.

The video, which Rixford and fellow Officer Tobe Bartkus created, is meant to be a series of funny shots from familiar on-campus locations that students will immediately recognize. But there’s more to it than just humor. 

This year’s seniors hold a special place for Rixford, who started working at Bentley four years ago after a career in the Air Force and with police departments in Townsend and Ashburnham. Rixford said he and the seniors got to know Bentley together, learning their way around campus and finding their place in the community.

“This class feels special to me,” he says.

He knows it’s been difficult for students to be away from campus so he’s been keeping in touch with many of them via emails or in lighthearted social media posts. Connecting with students is nothing new for him and his fellow campus officers, he said. It’s part of the close community at Bentley. 

“I remember buying a coffee for a student and they didn’t understand why I did that. I told them when you have kids, you’ll understand,” says Rixford, who has a 20-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. “Now whenever I see that student, he goes out of his way to say hi. That’s what it’s all about.”

The “I Saw a Falcon” video was edited by an alumna, Rachel Palumbo ’18, who volunteered after Rixford asked for editing help on Instagram. At the end as the credits roll, including a shout-out to Rixford as “Officer Exotic,” the video closes with a heartfelt message.

“Congratulations, class of 2020! We’ll miss the seniors very much. Fly high, Falcons!”

Rixford said he and his fellow officers recognize that while keeping an eye on students' behavior is one part of their job, a big part is connecting with them as people and “ensuring that our students have the right mindset so they can focus on their studies and thrive.”

“Living away from home is not easy for students, so giving them someone to turn to and treating them with respect — that’s what we try to do every day,” he says. “The biggest message that I want them to take away from this video is, We care about them.”

Watch "I Saw a Falcon" [below]