肉肉传媒

KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 2, 2017

The National Campus Safety Summit recognizes community-oriented policing and emergency response

The National Campus Safety Summit recently named 肉肉传媒 State鈥檚 as its 2017 鈥淒epartment of the Year鈥� for its student and campus safety initiatives.

The University鈥檚 Department of Public Safety and Police was selected from among the nation鈥檚 top universities involved with the , a conference focused on higher education campus safety.

鈥淭his national recognition is a tremendous honor for the Department of Public Safety and Police, and for 肉肉传媒 State, and speaks volumes to the extensive efforts that our public safety personnel have made to train, collaborate and educate on safety and security issues to make the campus a safer community,鈥� said KSU President Sam Olens. 鈥淭he strength of these innovative safety initiatives has already saved lives.鈥�

From a Campus Safety Day to a high-tech mobile safety app to a drug-administering program to save those who have overdosed, 肉肉传媒 State鈥檚 department was honored for its renewed focus on community-oriented policing and integration in keeping with the U.S. President鈥檚 Task Force on 21^st Century Policing.

In 2015, when 肉肉传媒 State consolidated with Southern Polytechnic State University, two police departments and one public safety department merged into the University鈥檚 new Department of Public Safety and Police. The new department extended beyond police services and established the Office of Victim Services, Office of Emergency Management and Office of Public Safety Systems.

The (OEM) plays an active role in campus safety and security. Emergency Management personnel train crises coordinators throughout the campus, with more than 200 volunteers prepared to assist with outreach efforts, mitigation programs and emergency response. In coordination with the KSU Police, OEM also collaborates with neighboring public safety and law enforcement agencies on emergency response drills on the KSU campuses.

Another initiative, led by the (OVS), implemented the carrying by KSU police officers of Naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Since the program鈥檚 start, KSU Police have responded to drug overdose calls near campus, reversing the drug effects and saving lives in five incidences involving individuals not affiliated with the University.

OVS also has trained victim advocates who are on call to serve the 肉肉传媒 and Marietta campuses and who work cooperatively with the institution鈥檚 Title IX Office, the and the KSU Police. The department offers a nationally endorsed (R.A.D.) course, a self-defense program taught by the University鈥檚 17 certified R.A.D. instructors that incorporates specialized simulation techniques and equipment. R.A.D. courses have surged in popularity among KSU students since first taught on campus in 2002.

Within the Department, the Office of Public Safety Systems manages the University鈥檚 camera system and electronic access control, and supports technology initiatives, which includes the deployment of body-worn cameras for police officers and laptop installation in patrol cars. In partnership with various campus partners, the Office has expanded security camera coverage in the University鈥檚 five parking decks and upgraded the entry access system for students in on-campus housing.

In late 2015, the Department launched , a free mobile smartphone app that provides students, faculty, staff and campus visitors direct and seamless contact with campus safety officials on a broad range of safety issues. Since the app was rolled out to the campus community, more than 775 tips have been submitted. 

As part of its community outreach efforts, the Department sponsors a Campus Safety Day to educate the campus community on crime prevention and safety, offering flu shots, fire extinguisher training, safety demonstrations and tours of the unit鈥檚 Mobile Command Center during the daylong event on each campus. 

The entire Department includes 112 full-time employees, of which 62 are sworn personnel. A new internship program within the department has attracted KSU students who are earning undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, conflict management, communication and marketing. A Law Enforcement Explorer Post program, a Citizens Police Academy and a Public Safety Advisory Committee also were established to increase shared governance.

With its numerous exercises and training initiatives, the Department also was recently named a 2017 Clery Compliance Program of the Year from the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals, for the Office of Victim Services鈥� work in implementing required training for every university employee in reporting criminal activities in compliance with the Clery Act.

鈥淜SU Public Safety and Police are committed to serving the campus community in a way that will enrich the overall educational mission by providing a safe and secure campus,鈥� said Interim Chief of Police Edward Stephens.

肉肉传媒 State鈥檚 Department of Public Safety and Police will be honored at Safe Campus, the National Campus Safety Summit, in Las Vegas, Feb. 20-22, 2018.

鈥� Tiffany Capuano

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 肉肉传媒 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 肉肉传媒 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 肉肉传媒 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.