The Use of Emerging Technology and Community Policing on Campus.

ChiefofPoliceDougRobertsMissouriUniversityofScienceandTechnology

Doug Roberts – Chief of Police for the University of Missouri Science and Technology

• Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration – University of Central Missouri

• Former Kansas City, Missouri Police Officer – Tactical Response • United States Secret Service from 1991 to 2016 – Retired as the

Assistant Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Field Office. • Missouri S&T Police Chief from 2016 to present.

The practice of Community Policing is alive and well in municipal and state and federal law enforcement. Using tactics like Community Policing in concert with emerging technology produce results that benefit the law enforcement community and the campus constituency.

On a college campus this can be referred to as Campus Community Policing.

Evolution of municipal law enforcement fromTraditional policing to a community policing model.

> Law enforcement policing tactics have evolved from answering calls for service and basic, routine preventive patrol to a more community team approach.

> Departments have realized that when there is a partnership approach, addressing community problems with the stakeholders, has proven rewarding to those involved while also proving effective and productive.

Benefits of Community Policing> Rewarding to the citizens and law enforcement officials> Higher level of productivity and involvement.> Easily transferred for use to other settings including the Campus Community

Policing Model.

Campus Community Policing> Simple, inexpensive, with immediate and positive impacts.> Practical utilization of resources mixed with creative concepts leads to

positive engagement opportunities.– These opportunities help to build relationships, increase cohesiveness,

and result in increased confidence from the community in their police services.

> Ultimately, there is an increase in work effectiveness and job satisfaction.

Implementing Campus Community Policing> Officers join law enforcement because they want to help or serve the

community. > The police department has to fully embrace the idea to see the results.> Its a marathon, not a sprint, but the results are often immediate and

rewarding.

The integration of Emerging Technology onto a campus

> Security technology from the 1980s is still prevalent on campus today – What are some examples?

> How do we change from yesterday’s technology to today’s technology?

> What technology is mainstream and used off-campus frequently making on-campus acceptance likely?

Use of Cameras

> Security cameras are everywhere and are widely accepted as a safety and security tool.

> Parking lots, large common areas, and campus buildings are popular locations for camera placement.

> Phasing the program and messaging are very important.

Cellphone Applications

> Can be used as a communication tool to the campus constituency.> A method for the campus to contact the University Police or Security. Text or

phone. Consideration for emergencies. > Geo-fencing capabilities.> Consider how many of your campus members have phones.> Promote having your phone charged.

Mass notification message sharing and classroom messaging

> Investing in a tool that enables campus visitors, guests, and vendors to receive mass-notification messaging. Often these can also be tailored to specific groups or events and the time duration can be extended by the project administrator.

> Identify a way to communicate to classrooms in the event of an emergency. Mass notification messaging received via desktop. Typically, messaging is sent via email, phone, text.

Building Locks and Access

> Building accessibility 24/7 is common on campus.> The cost of key replacement and re-coring of doors is expensive> Using a card access system enables accessibility as appropriate, the

monitoring of open, closed, and locked doors and ability to remotely lock or unlock a door.

> Card access for door locks also enables departments to identify who is using buildings and doors to help with metrics associated with heating, lights, and

staffing.

Other Technologies Available> Drones and small maneuverable robots > Gunfire sensing devices> Imaging systems > GPS systems including darts> In-car video and body cameras> Parking and ticket writing technology (meters, applications, use of tablets and cameras)

Communication> Communicating the direction of the department is important. > Messaging should be promoted from the Director or Chief of Police.> The function and mission for the campus police need to be effectively

communicated to the campus community.> Goals and objectives should be outlined.> Leadership should be involved in all components: - Staff – Faculty - Student

Representation> Leadership partnerships are key to promote communication

– Greek Life, Residential Life, Athletics, etc.> University Police staff should be representative of the campus community.

Diversity shows that you are interested in their perspective. Grow the police department through student participation. – Student employees help diversify the department and have a personal

perspective on the involvement of the police force with the student population.

Involvement With Resources> University Police must have a solid bond with the local law enforcement and

first responder community.> Interact with resources:

– Be proactive, invite them to tabletop exercises, invite them to bring presentations to campus. National Threat Assessment Center.

– Have monthly informal meetings with department heads.– Share technology and involve them in mass communication.– Provide resources to show value of partnership.– What is your toy in the sandbox?

Presence on Campus> Visibility is not only a criminal deterrent, but also gives constituents a feeling

of safety.> A portion of an officer’s shifts should be on foot patrolling campus.

– This should be documented on activity sheets to generate activity metrics.

– During this time, officers should engage with the campus community.

Presence on Campus> Campus law enforcement should b visible all the time, not just when bad

things happen, expand the feeling of safety to all the time.> Officers and supervisors/command staff should be in matching uniforms to

provide a sense of unity.> Positive (and negative) actions reflect on the whole department.

Force Multipliers> Park police vehicles close to campus to increase presence.> Technology such as surveillance systems and computer applications

increase force capabilities.> Partnerships with campus parties can help address community concerns

and also aid communication of new products such as apps or cameras.

Run – Hide – Fight

http://police.mst.edu/programs/runhidefight/

Going Further> Campus Police should seek out opportunities to help the constituency:

– Complimentary jump starts and vehicle unlocks are a great tool for building relationships with the community.

> Use of social media to promote the police department is helpful:– Use caution, as poorly timed or inaccurate messages can be detrimental

to the public’s view.– Work with the campus Communications Department.

Support and Encouragement

> Embrace technology and the evolution of safety.> Don’t fear innovation/changes. > Build informal working groups to review significant projects. This builds “buy

in” and strengthens the “team” approach that a campus should seek out. > Encourage contractual negotiation as a collective, your stronger as a group

of campuses versus one individual campus in a large campus system.

In Summary

> Campus Community Policing is all about building partnerships and relationships.

> V.I.P.E.R– V – Visibility– I – Involvement– P – Partnerships– E – Engagement– R – Relationships

Police Chief Doug RobertsMissouri University of Science and Technology573/341-4300 or cell 573/202-3689robertsdp@mst.edu