These people often lack familiarity with public safety operations. Campus chiefs of police and directors of security are often challenged by the opposing interests of their chief executive officers. Informing campus leaders about importance of public safety is vital to its success. Nonetheless, time constraints and other challenges and priorities imposed on these leaders make it difficult for them to devote any time to security and safety matters before the problems arise (National Summit of Campus Public Safety, 2005).
The look and feel of security on college and university campuses has changed dramatically since September 11th. Colleges and universities have implemented the following:
- updated their campus emergency management plans to include response protocols for an active shooter on campus, bomb threat, evacuation, lockdown and other high probability incidents that might occur.
- registered their campus emergency management plans with their local municipal police departments and county offices of emergency management.
- begun holding regular active shooter simulation training for sworn officers (Canas,
2008).
In order to further these efforts that have been taken, experts suggest that there should be a national agenda on campus safety created that sets forth both short-term and long-term direction. This agenda should be developed and embraced jointly by the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal and nonprofit agencies and organizations committed to...
There needs to be one plan in place so that everyone is on the same page.
They feel that without this national agenda approaches to strengthening campus safety and security will remain fragmented. The main concerns that the field considers important will be relegated to a lesser concern or ignored as the nation moves to embrace homeland security. "Associations, professional organizations, foundations, and government agencies will continue to function independently, at times duplicating their efforts or working in conflict with each other" (National Summit of Campus Public Safety, 2005).
A national agenda on campus safety would confirm the common principles embraced by the various agencies and associations that serve the field. It should be concise document that suggests strategic targets, points of intervention, and responsibilities for key people. It should provide a road map for enhancing and improving campus safety (National Summit of Campus Public Safety, 2005).
References
Canas, Richard. (2008). Retrieved May 7, 2009, from The New York Times Web site:
http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/rethinking-the-role-of-campus-police/
National Summit of Campus Public Safety. (2005). Retrieved May 7, 2009, from U.S.
Department of Justice Web site:
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/NationalSummitonCampusPublicSafety.
pdf
