Page 96 - Security Today, May/June 2019

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campuslifesecurity.com | MAY/JUNE 2019
A Proactive Approach to Campus Security
Denver Public Schools security department utilizes leading security technologies and emergency response practices for edge-to-edge security solution
By Ellie Randall
Denver Public Schools (DPS) is comprised of more than 200 schools, including traditional, innovation, magnet, charter and pathways schools. Serving one of the fastest growing school districts in Colorado, the DPS safety department is constantly working to create a safe and secure environment for over 90,000 students, 15,000 staff members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Led by Chief Michael Eaton, the department has over 140 team members including investigators, armed patrol officers, dispatchers, emergency preparedness professionals, and campus security officers. In addition to training district staff in emergency management, DPS protects their stakeholders from harm and offers guidance to school administrators to enhance school safety in a wide variety of situations.
“At the core of all our efforts in safeguarding our students, faculty, and staff is our campus security protocols, and perhaps most impor- tantly, our access control system,” said Eaton.
Some of the major requirements DPS needed in their access con- trol system included flexibility and scalability. After much research, DPS discovered Open Options and named them as their access con- trol partner of choice in 2013.
“When looking for a security technology provider, it was essential for us that we found a partner, not just a provider,” said Melissa Cra- ven, director of emergency management for DPS. “We now have a solid access control solution that has allowed DPS to grow over the years. The system we invested in seven years ago looks nothing like the system in use today.”
As security for a school district has many layers, having an access control system with an abundance of features is critical.
“Open Options has provided this for the district and more,” said Craven. “There is still more to be done in building the most robust system in K-12 education, and I feel confident Denver Public Schools can accomplish with the help of Open Options.”
Best-of-Breed Solution
While an access control system serves as the primary component of a security system, coupling it with additional technologies—such as video management, wireless locks, visitor management, and more— allows for a well-rounded solution that covers multiple aspects of campus security.
For over two decades, Open Options has partnered with Mercury