Ruben Santiago is so jazzed about becoming Fort Jackson police chief that he plans to move his Family to post, a move he sees as part of community policing.

A veteran of the Columbia Police Department and Richland County Sheriff's Department, Santiago always has lived in the jurisdiction for which he worked. To do that this time, he'll have to sell or rent his house in Columbia.

"I really, truly want to be part of the community," Santiago said last week. His two daughters -- who are 10 and 11 -- are excited.

"Every day," he said, they ask, "When are we going to move?"

Santiago himself attended Pierce Terrace Elementary School when his father was posted at Fort Jackson. When he was 17, he enlisted in the Army but did not return to the post during his six years of service.

Coming to post in October, Santiago underwent a baptism by fire.

"The first week I got here was when the floods came," he said. "It was literally hit the ground running. (The damage) forced me to really adapt quickly."

For three nights during the flooding, Santiago slept in his Spartan office.

But the challenge was helpful, he said.

"During that time, we really learned a lot" about cooperation between the post and the city of Columbia and taking care of Families even as their Soldiers were called to assist in the aftermath of flooding.

A proponent of community policing credited with making Five Points and the city of Columbia in general less crime plagued, Santiago is eager to test his mettle on post.

"Our focus right now has been strictly law enforcement, (but) we want to go out there (and) change the way our officers and MPs think" as they work with Soldiers and those who live on post.

"I think that's going to build a lot of trust."

On his agenda:

• Establishing a crime-analysis unit so that officers can determine criminal patterns and clusters.

• Conducting more active-shooter drills during events such as graduation from basic training. In the past, most such drills have been performed in workplaces on post. Santiago already has tightened security at graduation ceremonies.

• Initiating more sharing of information, as well as cross-training between the post's 60 Army and civilian security officers and county and city officers. Santiago says "Fort Jackson always has been the black hole when it comes to sharing of information."

• Focusing on alcohol abuse and domestic violence at home, as well as larceny and shoplifting at post businesses.

• Setting up more opportunities for young people to learn about law enforcement, such as an Explorers group, something Santiago calls "ROTC but for law enforcement."

Santiago also said coming to Fort Jackson would give him a chance to combat some of the controversy that surrounded him when he served with the Columbia Police.

As acting chief -- a post he held for nearly a year between 2013 and 2014 - Santiago received kudos for community policing and a drop in crime but was accused of wrongdoing. The State Law Enforcement Division cleared Santiago of criminal charges, but a cloud remained. The city took him off its list of candidates for permanent chief.

"This is kind of redemption for me," Santiago said about coming to Fort Jackson. "Who doesn't care what people think about you?"

Patrick O'Connor, deputy director of emergency services, said that because of his experience, Santiago was the best candidate for the job.

"I think he's going to bring good things to Fort Jackson's military police," O'Connor said.