DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT 2019-2020
The University was closed to all community members, except vital personnel, to ensure the campus stayed safe when COVID-19 emergency measures were implemented in March of 2020, per the PA Govenor.
CALLS FOR SERVICE
The Department responded to a total of 6,574 calls for service from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020. Among them were:
Type of Call |
# of Calls |
---|---|
Transports | 1611 |
Room Lockouts (Residence) |
1414 |
Access Building Classroom |
1305 |
Vehicle Jump Starts |
217 |
Vehicle Lockouts |
38 |
Safety Escorts |
4 |
Live Scan Finger Printing |
1013 |
Ill or Injured Persons |
562 |
Crime Prevention Activities |
353 |
Well-Being Check |
57 |
INCIDENT REPORTS
An incident report is completed for any situation where a crime may have been committed, any response to an alarm on campus, calls for medical situations, reports of accidents, and where officers investigate suspicious circumstances. From July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020, officers completed 2,569 incident reports.
LOST AND FOUND
From July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020, the Department received 865 items of found property, valued at $7,548.27. Many of these items were able to be returned to their rightful owner. Unclaimed property is sold at the annual Public Safety Found Property Auction, which is held in conjunction with National Campus Crime Awareness Month each September. This year the auction proceeds of $3,315 were donated to the 草榴社区 鈥淩ainy Day Fund鈥. This fund is administered through the Office for Multicultural Affairs. In addition, all books were donated to the Center for Access Success and Achievement to assist in their inclusive educational initiatives.
TRAINING
Officers attended several half-day sessions of in-service training, held in January and August as well as various other sessions throughout the year. In addition, officers completed on-line training and various roll call training sessions.
Training topics from July 1, 2019 through July 1, 2020 included:
- Crime Prevention/ Community Outreach
- Parking Policy Updates
- Use of Force
- Judicial Process/ Alcohol Policies reviewed
- QPR 鈥 Suicide Prevention Training
- Emergency Management
- Traffic Control
- PPCT Pressure Points Control Tactics
- Defensive Tactics and Threat Pattern Recognition
- Blood Borne Pathogens
- Hazardous Materials Response
- First Aid/ CPR
- Mental Health Training
- Campus Security Authority Training
- Workplace Harassment Training
- Sexual Assault Resource Training
- Emergency Vehicle Operating Course
- Assessment of Intoxicated Persons
- Code of Conduct
- Code of Ethics
- Biased Based Profiling
- Management of Aggressive Behavior
- Hazards/EHS Concerns
- Conflict Resolution
- Title IX/ Sexual Assault
- Quarterly Firearms Training
- Evidence Processing
- Understanding the Threat- Hate Crimes
- Active Shooter Response Training- Police Officers
- Emergency Medical technician course
- Interviewing/Investigations
- POSIT- Police Supervisory In Service Training
- RITE- Racial Intelligence Training Engagement
- Fair and Impartial Policing
- Special Event Management
- Patriot Firearms Training
- The Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network Terminal- Dispatchers
Penn State Field Officer Training - Crisis Intervention Training and Mental Health Policy Reviews Police/Security 鈥 Lexipol
Daily Training Bulletins - Lexipol 鈥 5610 completed on the following topics:
- Custody and Detention, Equipment, Investigations and Enforcement, Officer Safety and Tactics, Search and Seizure, Support Services, Use of Force, Vehicle Operations
Police One Academy to include:
30 hours for Sworn and Non-Sworn Officers on the following topics:
- Internet/Technology in Law Enforcement
- Traffic Stops and Officer Safety
- Communication Skills
- Missing Persons with Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Firearms Tactics
- Community Policing
- Campus Policing
- Hate Crimes
- Responding to people with Mental Illness
- Tactical Patrol Considerations
- De-Escalation and Minimizing Use of Force
- Emotional and Psychological Disorders 1
- Emotional and Psychological Disorders 2
- Ethics in Law Enforcement
- Opioid Crisis: Protecting First Responders
- Ambush Awareness and Preparation
- Recognizing and Responding to Domestic Violence
- Constitutional Law
- Arrest, Search and Seizure (Fourth Amendment)
- Hazmat First Responder Awareness
- Anti -Bias Training for Law Enforcement
- Active Shooter 1
- Active Shooter: Phases and Prevention
- Report Writing 1
- Report Writing 2
- Driving while Distracted
- Time Management Skills
- Workplace Stress Resiliency
- Community Policing
24 hours for Dispatchers on the following topics:
- Understanding and Responding to Excited Delirium Calls
- Constitutional Law
- Responding to Mental Illness
- Emotional and Psychological Disorders 1
- Emotional and Psychological Disorders 2
- Hostage Negotiations
- Dispatcher TTY
- Dispatch Communications 1
- Specialized call types (Active Shooter)
- Specialized call types (Bomb Threat)
- Specialized call types (Chemical Spills)
- Specialized call types (Missing Persons/Sexual Exploitation)
- Specialized call types (Sovereign Citizens, Domestic Terrorism and Lone wolf Attacks)
- Stress Management
- Ethics in Public Service
- Liability and Legal Issues
- Lethality Assessment Program (LAP)
- Domestic Violence Intervention
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/CRIMRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES
July 1, 2019- July 1, 2020 Summary Report:
The Department of Public Safety makes use of a Twitter Social Media Account: @vupubsafe to communicate safety and event information to community members.
The Department of Public Safety held National Campus Safety Awareness Day in September.
Mobile Treat Unit (MTU) made more than 35 appearances throughout the year working with student groups, activity and athletic groups, most major events as well as faculty/staff events. MTU also assisted several outside communities.
R.A.D. Self Defense Classes were instructed and completed with various groups including sororities, Resident Assistants/Resident Students, and private student requests.
Crime Prevention Checks conducted with the Inn at 草榴社区, University Shop, Library and Convenience Store locations.
Active Shooter Presentations made to Office of Residence Life, Falvey Library, Theatre and Performance Arts, Graduate Program, Career Center, Honors Program, Bursar Office, School of Business, School of Nursing, Athletics, and Campus Ministry
Public Safety Officers and Police Officers participated in the following community events and/or provided safety information to various community members including:
- Residence Life Fair and Resident Assistant Activities
- Parent Resource Fair/ Staying Safe on Campus Presentation
- International Student Orientation
- New Student Orientation
- Graduate Student Orientation
- House Calls
- Student Activities Fair
- Student Government
- Campus Activities Team
- Black Cultural Society
- Fraternities and Sororities
- Multicultural Extravaganza
- Day of Service and 1842 Day
- Special Olympics
- POWER
- Campus Engagement Team
- Campus Ministry
- CASA
- ROTC
- U.S.C
Pandemic Emergency Closure required cancelling events such as: National Clothes-Line Project for Violence normally scheduled in April as well as previously scheduled Rad Self Defense Classes and normally scheduled Mobile Treat Unit Appearances. Zoom On line Sessions with various student groups occurred during this time with 草榴社区 Police Officers.
INVESTIGATIONS
The Investigative Unit conducts follow up investigations into reports of crimes and violations of University policy. From July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020, the Unit investigated 30 Incidents, bringing 26 of cases to a successful resolution.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Department completed revisions and updates of the University鈥檚 Emergency Management Plan in September, 2019. Throughout the year, several presentations and discussions were conducted with several departments on campus to prepare community members to respond to critical incidents.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
From July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020, The Department investigated 1 complaint against an officer. Complaints filed with the Department are fully investigated through the internal affairs process. The complaint alleged unprofessional behavior by an officer. It was found to be unsubstantiated.
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION
For the 2019/2020 school year, the Parking Department renewed 3,000 Faculty and Staff permits, issued 1,500 other staffing permits, and issued 5,500 student permits with approximately 150 permit requests denied. Parking Officers wrote 7,500 tickets and booted 65 vehicles. 0 (zero) vehicles were towed from campus during the past year. The I-1 Garage had 20,000 visitors and the new guest pass system processed 3,000 visitors. The On and Off Campus Shuttle services approximately 1,000 students per day. 草榴社区 fleet for faculty, staff, and students made 3,587 reservations, traveling 252,000 miles. Through the Nova Van On Demand Shuttle App for day time mobility and late night transports. Over 10,420 transports were completed.
STAFFING
The Department experienced 21 separations at various ranks due to retirements, resignations, and terminations throughout the year. Some vacancies were created when officers were promoted into a higher rank.
Unit or Rank |
# of vacancies |
# filled through promotion |
# of external hires |
---|---|---|---|
Lieutenant - Police |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Lieutenant - Patrol |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Sergeant - Police |
2 | 1 | 1 |
Sergeant - Patrol |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Communications Officer |
3 | 1 | 2 |
Police Officer |
5 | 2 | 3 |
Patrol Officer 2 |
9 | 1 | 8 |
Patrol Officer 1 |
5 | 2 | 3 |
Parking Office |
2 |
0 | 2 |
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Public Safety Department provided over 2729 hours of extra special event coverage from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020. This extra security coverage aids special events held on campus throughout the year. These hours include events such as homecoming, commencement, move-in, campus sporting events, dances, and other activities throughout the year.