A review of the recommendations made in the 2011 Security Commission Report on the Department of Public Safety—which called for the implementation of a mixed system of both sworn peace officers and nonsworn officers and resulted in the renaming of University Security to the Department of Public Safety, among other recommendations—is under way.
In October, President and CEO Joel Seligman appointed Holly Crawford, senior vice president for administration and finance, to chair a commission to conduct the review as one of her first projects upon assuming her new role in January 2016.
The commission is charged with evaluating the role of Public Safety in campus safety efforts—specifically adequacy in staffing, training, equipment, and authority of Public Safety staff. It will determine what has changed in the past five years locally and nationally with regards to public safety on university campuses and medical centers and assess the current campus and neighborhood environments; review trend data on crimes, gang-related activity, data on practices and equipment at peer institutions; and consider implications for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors, Crawford says. The commission intends to seek input from a broad cross section of individuals across the University and with local law enforcement officials.
The group is expected to provide an update to Seligman and the Board of Trustees in March with a full report in May.
Commission members include:
- Holly Crawford, senior vice president for administration and finance, chief financial officer, and treasurer (chair)
- Paul Burgett, vice president and general secretary and senior advisor to the President
- Matthew Burns, dean of students
- Carole Farley-Toombs, director of clinical operations and associate director of nursing practice, Strong Behavioral Health
- Richard Feldman, dean of the College
- Michele Gibson, senior associate dean for administration and finance, Eastman School of Music
- Kathy Parrinello, associate vice president and chief operating officer of Strong Memorial Hospital
- Peter Robinson, Medical Center vice president and chief operating officer
Advisors:
- Mark Fischer, director of Public Safety
- Gerald Pickering, deputy director Public Safety
- Mark Cavanaugh, director of Environmental Health and Safety
- Richard Crummins, senior counsel for River Campus legal issues
