Shortly after Security Magazine ranked the Longwood University Po- lice Department (LUPD) on its 2012 Security 500 list as one of the top law enforcement agencies in university education for the fourth consecutive year, the LUPD reacted to a planned Winter Break power outage as if it were a real emergency situation.
LUPD Chief of Police Bob Beach referred to the power outage as “an opportunity to test our Emergency Operations Plan [EOP] so should something happen ... what would be the police department’s response to that in making sure we keep the place secure and safe?”
The power outage, which Dominion Power planned in order to replace a power switch, lasted about three hours and allowed the LUPD to address safety issues.
After the power outage exercise, the LUPD held an “after action” meeting to discuss the results of the drill. Beach said the main issues found were low batteries in the university’s LENEL integrated security system and alarms, as well and technical and mechanical problems with the doors.
Beach said there were positive results of the power outage drill and for the LUPD staff on duty, who followed the EOP according to plan, and the generators turned on almost immedi- ately.
The continuity of operation of the university after the drill was also important, Beach said, as the LUPD’s ability to react to a crisis efficiently and get the university running again is part of keeping the institution safe. According to Beach, the purpose of security exercises is to allow the LUPD’s law enforcement officers to “practice their skills, to make sure they’re at the front edge to address whatever their issues are.” “We’re not just looking to respond to issues but to find proactive ways to address problems and concerns,” Beach said. He added that searching for opportunities such as the power outage to improve the safety of the university is a department philosophy.
Beach believes the safety of the campus is a “university-wide process” that both Security Magazine and Longwood community members recognize. He said it’s “that concerted effort that I think causes people to understand we’re not just sitting still as a group. These men and women are moving toward making sure this is a safe place and finding new and inventive ways to do that.”
Beach said LUPD staff members are expected to be proactive at all times. “There’s the expectation that [an LUPD staff member] is to be doing those things, and there is the authority and the resources being provided so [he or she] can accomplish and have a sense of success in those things.”
A regular safety measure the LUPD takes is assigning a sergeant and police officer to each Police Service Area (PSA) in the Longwood community. “They are out talking to the people who live, work and operate in those areas to talk about issues they see,” Beach said.
The LUPD’s supervisors also meet once a month to discuss any issues found since the last meeting and find solutions to any possible problems.
In addition to LUPD’s 15 full-time and seven part-time police officers, the department consists of a nine- person command staff, the Office of Integrated Security Systems and the Parking Services Office.
Security Magazine bases its Security 500 rankings on a Benchmarking Survey with data supplied directly through the respective ranked orga- nizations and public resources and records.
“It’s based on safety and security efforts put forth by that organization to address and continue to improve its safety and security operation,” Beach added.
In response to Longwood’s ranking, Dr. Tim Pierson, vice president for Student Affairs, said in a statement published in Longwood’s “Insider” newsletter, “We are very proud of the level of commitment and professionalism the members of the Longwood University Police Department bring to the job every day. Being ranked nationally for the fourth consecutive year makes it clear that the university is fully committed to the safety and security of the campus community.”
The magazine ranked Longwood number 13 out of 22 other university’s security operations. Rankings of sev- eral types of institutions’ security operations, such as hospitals and banks, were included on the overall list.
As far as the LUPD’s overall work ethic, Beach said, “This is not just a place that you are reactive to. I expect them to every day be looking at what is it that they can do to make it better.”
