SU Police Earns Governor's Crime Prevention Award
Tuesday December 13, 2016
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| Sgt. Daniel Calhoun and Lt. Joel Davies accepted the Governor's Crime Prevention Award on behalf of the Salisbury University Police Department. |
SU Police received the department’s Category A Crime Prevention Award, recognizing its overall outstanding crime prevention program.
“Salisbury University Police believe that knowledge is power when it comes to campus and community safety,” said SU Police Chief Edwin Lashley. “We place a premium on educational programming for our students to help avoid unsafe situations or to be prepared if they occur. I am grateful for the work of all our officers in these areas. The recognition that safety is a top University priority and the support that has followed from the administration provides a solid foundation for our work.”
Agencies selected for the award must participate in programs recommended by the Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute. They include personal and commercial security; training, media and public relations activities, an officer and citizen recognition program relating to crime prevention; and support of the “McGruff the Crime Dog” national crime prevention campaign.
During fiscal 2016, SU Police made 25 personal protection presentations to approximately 1,300 members of the campus community. They addressed issues relating to University Police services and personal safety, alcohol and drug abuse, acquaintance rape, identity theft and emergency response.
Specific classes were offered in Self-Defense Awareness and Familiarization (SAFE) and Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) not only to students, but to members of the surrounding community, including the elderly. In addition, SU Police conducted orientations at youth camps on campus, instructing attendees on the difference between drugs and candy, despite similar appearances.
University Police also facilitated drug abuse prevention presentations for some 1,200 students, participated in community town halls, conducted security surveys, upgraded SU’s video surveillance system and continued the campus Crime Watch program.
The department performed outreach to members of the campus and greater communities in person and with digital communications and signage, maintained relationships with other area law enforcement agencies, recognized its Officer and Employee of the Year, and distributed McGruff the Crime Dog coloring books to children attending admissions open houses.
The Governor’s Crime Prevention Award is the latest honor for SU Police. The department recently earned reaccreditation from the International Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). It is one of only six institutions in the University System of Maryland to hold CALEA accreditation.
For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.