February
27 ,
2004
Public
Safety Plans Outside Assessment
|
Photo:
Todd LeMieux
Paul Ominsky, director
of public safety |
A letter went out to the Mount Holyoke
community last week announcing that the College’s department
of public safety is hiring a consultant, Kroll, Inc., to review
its policies and procedures. As the letter explained, earlier
this winter Mount Holyoke became the first college or university
in the state to have its public safety agency become certified
by the Massachusetts Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation.
The upcoming review is part of public safety’s plan to
earn accreditation, the highest standard of excellence recognized
by the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Kroll, Inc. is one of the leading risk consulting companies in the world. Kroll
representatives will meet on March 10 and 11 with various campus groups, including
the student government association, faculty conference committee, and residential
life staff to help the department of public safety assess the current and future
needs for safety. One of the issues Kroll will consider is the possibility of
arming the College’s officers. “This is a question that campus public
safety agencies all over the country are asking,” said Paul Ominsky, director
of public safety. “Since Mount Holyoke is a safe environment this is a
good time to talk about this important issue. There is no pressure causing us
to be reactive.” He stressed that the College is not necessarily changing
its no-arms policy, but that “a risk assessment for the campus would not
be complete without reviewing this important topic.”
Kroll and the department
of public safety will also look into residence hall safety, outdoor lighting,
and other issues of campus security.he
un
he
counter is
1,135
|
