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Department of Public Safety Annual ReportFY 2001 - 2002
I.
Mission Statement The Department of Public Safety is responsible for providing
police protection, transportation services and parking control to the
University Community. The police operation serves the campus 24 hours a day,
preventing crime through constant patrol, presenting educational programs and
investigating and prosecuting those who commit crimes on campus. The Parking
Services Division provides reliable intra-campus shuttle service to all
facilities on campus. The Division is also tasked with providing safe and
reliable transportation to student groups traveling off campus to participate
in athletic, academic or social events. Parking control personnel, through
enforcement of the University’s parking code and maintenance of the traffic and
parking signage, keep traffic flowing smoothly through campus. II.
Department
Statement of Goals Public Safety seeks to provide a safe and functional campus,
which allows students and faculty to participate in teaching and research
without fear of crime or disturbance. Public Safety also seeks to provide
through a functional shuttle service and parking enforcement, the orderly and
rapid movement of people throughout the campus. By maximizing the use of
existing parking facilities through an efficient transportation system, the
University is better able utilize its limited resources to support the academic
mission of the University. III.
Departmental Statement of Outcomes The level of criminal victimization on campus remained
relatively stable during the past year. We feel this is due to the improvements
in lighting, access control, and emergency communications, which the University
has invested in during the last five years. Constant police patrol and the
aggressive prosecution of criminal cases also work to keep the campus
safe. Most students, who have expressed
an opinion, seem to feel that the campus is safe. The rider ship for the
University shuttle system continues to grow. More students are riding the
shuttle and utilizing the outlying lots. IV. The Department Statement of Outcomes / An Example During the past year during the heaviest class times of the
day, the shuttles were full and to often had to leave students to wait for
another bus. The matter was discussed with the Student Government Association
who requested another bus be added to the schedule and run as an express from
Tyus to the UCC. It was determined that this would better utilize the Tyus Lot
and pull traffic away from the congested north end of the campus. A new bus has
been purchased and will begin its run in fall of 2002.
V. Health of the Department During the past year we were three police positions short
due to the budget freeze. As a result, the number of police officers working
the campus fell below the number, which, we feel, is needed to provide adequate
coverage of the campus. Overtime was utilized when necessary but this is a
limited option for providing shift coverage. Eventually we were able to fill two
of the positions but were forced to permanently eliminate a police position to
pay for the mandated budget cut. This is on top of the redirection of funds
from two and three years ago which cost the police side of the budget $30,000.
We have not received any additional funding on the non-personnel side of the
budget though we have instituted several new programs, which have significant
costs. An example are the emergency phones which cost over $3,000 to operate
annually, plus another two to three thousand in repairs. Student enrollment
continues to increase but we have two less police positions than we had in
1993. As our population grows we need to add police officers but have been
unable to do so. Public Safety also continues to deal with retention of personnel
issues. Local police agencies have significantly enhanced their salary
structure in recent years. Through the efforts of the Vice President we were
able to increase our base salary by approximately $1500 per officer last year.
However, we still lag far behind most agencies we compete with for police
personnel. With the money that was returned to us from the original 5% budget
cut, we had sufficient funds to hire a part-time dispatcher for the morning
watch. This will eliminate the need for a police officer to dispatch when the
full-time dispatcher is off. VI. Department Achievements The Department continues to improve in technology, training,
and planning. The events surrounding September 11th changed our
focus and we are now involved in the rewrite of our emergency plans, with an
emphasis on issues, which, had not, been included in previous plans. For
example, a campus mass inoculation plan and an anthrax response plan was
written and distributed to campus leaders and also has been placed on the Public
Safety Web site. The recent budget freeze did result in significant
year-end funds, which were utilized to enhance the University’s emergency
response. With these funds we were able to replace a number of the Departments
computers, printers and copier. We added to our radio system inventory,
purchased gas masks for the officers, and began construction of an emergency
command center. The gas mask is capable of filtering out anthrax and completes
the officers riot gear. (In previous years we purchased helmets and shields.) Last fall the weather radar system was updated and all
dispatch personnel were trained on its use. This update greatly improves the
systems functionality and our ability to forecast severe weather on the campus.
We now require the dispatchers to provide the weather forecast to all on-coming
personnel so that they are familiar with the system and the officers know what
to expect on their shifts. We have provided them with riot training and will have a
refresher course on an annual basis. The officers were also certified on two
non-lethal weapon systems. One is effective for controlling an individual while
the second is effective on both individuals and large groups. All dispatchers
were trained in Emergency Medical Dispatching and this training has become
mandatory for all future dispatchers. As new equipment comes on line, we have also updated our
policies to incorporate its use. For example, we now provide small gun safes to
each officer who we provide a weapon. This action was taken to lessen the
potential for a child to obtain and use their parent’s issued weapon. The
Department’s weapon policy was altered to make use of the safe mandatory with
severe disciplinary action noted for failure to comply. In Criminal Investigations we reassigned an officer to
improve case turn-around. The existing investigators were overwhelmed and the
reassigned officer has helped to more quickly follow-up on cases, especially
those involving threats to the students. Two of the investigators were sent to
Kentucky for sexual assault investigations and new equipment has been added to
enhance their ability to process evidence.
Staff Productivity In the past year Public Safety has provided the following
training to its staff. 1) Sent two staff members to Boston for training on the new records management system 2) Sent two investigators to the Southern Police Institute for training in sexual assault investigation 3)
Sent the Parking Supervisor to Kentucky for training in
Parking Management 4)
The Department’s firearms instructors attended the
annual meeting of the Georgia Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. They also
attended certification training on the use of the Pepperball weapon system. 5)
The Director attended the International Chiefs of
Police Conference in Toronto Canada. He also attended the winter and summer
conferences of the Georgia Chiefs of Police in Valdosta and Savannah
respectively. He also attended the Governor’s Emergency Management Conference
in Jekyll Island as well as the quarterly meetings of the Georgia Association
of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. 6)
All patrol officers received at minimum their 20 hours
of required training. 7)
Most bus drivers and PCO’s were certified in CPR, 1st
Aid and infectious disease control. Those who did not attend will be trained
when they return prior to the beginning of school. Student Achievements NA Other Awards and Distinctions In January of 2002 the Director was elected to serve as the President of the Georgia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators for 2003. |
