Page 23 - College Planning & Management, July/August 2018

Safety & Security PREPARE AND BE AWARE
Today’s Well-Dressed Campus Police Officer
Here’s a look at the technology with which the well-dressed police officer—
and the officer’s car—are equipped, to ensure the best possible outcomes
when policing campus.
BY ELLEN KOLLIE
COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT recently spoke with Bill Lafferty, assistant vice president for College Life at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, and
president of Northeast Colleges and Universities Security Associa- tion (NECUSA, www.necusa.org) about this. NECUSA promotes “public safety in higher education through professional develop- ment, networking, and information sharing through formal and informal opportunities.” Here’s his wisdom, gleaned from 30 years of private and campus law enforcement experience.
CPM: In the last 20 years, how has technology changed to augment campus police officers’ jobs and promote student safety?
Lafferty: There have been both significant enhancements and significant challenges as a result of technology changes.
In terms of enhancements, officers are more mobile and capable of interacting with campus constituents in a way they haven’t previously been able. They’re also able to do reports in the field, which significantly increases efficiency and allows institutions to create better processes that provide timelier access to crime and
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