When choosing an emergency response system for the Coatesville Area School District, Chief of Police Frank Galbraith, who is also a Campus Safety Director of the Year finalist, made sure it had four very important features.

We spoke to Frank about the features he knew he wanted when selecting a vendor, in addition to tips he has for other districts that might be looking to upgrade an existing system or implement a new one.

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:

• How Frank includes local law enforcement in emergency response (6:37)
• How he created a district incident command team (10:50)
  How he taught himself to write grants, securing nearly $400,000 in funding for the school district (14:15)
• Advice he has for other districts applying for federal grant money (18:00)

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Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees have resettled across the U.S. over the past year or so, and many American hospitals, institutions of higher education, and other organizations were tasked with providing medical care, housing, and other services to many of the Afghans fleeing their country.

Since then, millions of Ukrainian refugees have been forced to flee their homeland due to the Russian invasion of their nation, and about 100,000 Ukrainian refugees will soon be coming to America. Once again, many U.S. campuses will be stepping up to care for these refugees.

In light of this development, I reached out to Virtua Health AVP of Environmental Services, Security, and Safety Paul Sarnese so he could tell us about Virtua’s Mount Holly facility’s experience last year in helping more than 1,000 refugees from Afghanistan.

In my interview with Sarnese, who is also one of this year’s Campus Safety Director of the Year finalists, he describes what was all involved in helping Virtua Health’s guests from Afghanistan.

Although each group of refugees coming to the U.S. has their own unique set of circumstances, there are some promising practices covered by Sarnese that most likely apply to organizations assisting any refugee population.

In my interview, Sarnese specifically addresses the following:

·       His department’s role. 4:14

·       What was all involved in this process. 6:35

·       Some of the biggest challenges faced during this process, as well as successes. 9:00

·       Considering our nation will soon be welcoming thousands of refugees from Ukraine, advice for other healthcare security professionals tasked with assisting them. 11:22

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Inspired by her own dog's ability to comfort a struggling student, Central State University Police Department Chief Stephanie Hill established the campus' Therapy K-9 Program.

Hill partnered with Brevard County Sheriff's Office Paws and Stripes College, which trains rescue and shelter dogs to become comfort dogs. The cost of the canine, Penny, and training for her and its handler, was covered by the program.

Hill, a Campus Safety Director of the Year Finalist, spoke with us about the program, how she got connected with a sheriff's department 1,000 miles away, and how the university is able to fund the pup's monthly expenses.

Hill also spoke with us about how her department opened and maintained a food and hygiene product pantry on campus, supporting students and staff who may be struggling with food or basic needs insecurity.

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The COVID pandemic has put a massive strain on everyone, but especially nurses, doctors, and other medical staff working at hospitals. Although practically every industry is currently experiencing labor shortages, the problem is particularly challenging in healthcare and has been an issue since the start of the pandemic. 

Reid Health System Chief of Police Randy Kolentus, who is also one of this year’s Campus Safety Director of the Year finalists, recognized that the clinicians in his organization were overwhelmed with work and needed help. He and his department stepped in to provide non-medical assistance to the nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals at their organization to help lighten their load and brighten their day.

In my interview, Randy addresses:

• The experience of the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals at Reed Health during the pandemic, and what  made it abundantly clear that they needed assistance from security: 1:38
• How he and his department identified what officers and other staff members could do to help: 8:44 
• Who was designated from the security department to provide assistance: 12:22
• The overall results of security staff members pitching in to help the healthcare professionals at Reid Health: 15:40
• Advice for other hospitals struggling with medical worker shortages and burnout: 17:41

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Putting the customer first and at the center of every decision is always top-of-mind for Anthony Pluretti, executive director of campus safety at Widener University and a 2022 Campus Safety Director of the Year finalist.

Pluretti's department's "customers" are the students, and the "goods" they are "selling" are the institution and the department itself. Pluretti's direct customers are his employees.

The department has three guiding principles -- all of which are customer-focused: foundations of a customer-centric team, delivering customer service, and ongoing improvements.

Listen to our chat with Pluretti to hear how he has worked to ensure both students and employees are "happy customers."

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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) houses six doctoral-degree-granting colleges and educates 75% of the state’s dentists, 40% of its pharmacists, and 40% of its physicians.

UTHSC Campus Police Chief Anthony Berryhill, a 2022 Campus Safety Higher Education Director of the Year finalist, discusses both the benefits and the complexities of policing a campus that houses renowned research facilities and has students and faculty from around the globe.

Chief Berryhill also touches on how he completely reformed the culture of the UTHSC campus police department through initiatives such as community events and accreditations.

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Campus Safety's 2022 Director of the Year K-12 finalist Christopher Ellisor, Director of Safety and Emergency Services for the Lexington School District One in Lexington, S.C., talks about his district's success with adding a texting option to its anonymous tip line, and his recommendations for a district considering a similar undertaking.

Ellisor also touches on challenges he overcame when implementing the updated system, and how his law enforcement background has helped and continues to help him in his current role.

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When an emergency happens at a school or college campus, the news media -- be they from a local or national TV network, print publication, online publication, or social media -- can be a public safety department’s best friend or biggest foe. It all depends on how the department and campus or district as a whole works with them.

No one knows that better than J. Paul Vance, who served for 43 years with the Connecticut State Police and was responsible for his department’s media relations during the immediate aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting that resulted in the murders of 20 school children and six adult campus staff members.

In this interview, Paul gives us valuable  tips on how campus and district public safety departments can effectively work with the news media so that as much information as possible can be released about a crisis without jeopardizing security or an investigation.

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For many of us, the last two years have been devastating, whether it be financially, mentally, or personally due to loss. 

It's undeniable that the pandemic has placed added stress on a lot of people and families. Some are able to push through using learned coping mechanisms or by confiding in loved ones. Others are barely hanging on and don't know where to look for support.

Teachers are among the professions that have been tasked with providing support to students who may not have 

How do you know the difference between "typical" expected stress that comes with the many changes we've all had to live through, and actual traumatic, debilitating stress? 

For those who are experiencing extreme stress, would you be able to identify someone having a mental health crisis? If yes, would you know what to do to help?

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There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic we all have been experiencing over the past couple of years has been traumatic and tragic. More than a million Americans have died and millions more have lost loved ones as a result of this dreaded disease. 

That said, there have been some positive developments in school safety and security that have resulted. 

To tell us about those “silver linings” is FEA Vice President Paul Timm. In our discussion, Paul talks about the elevated roles of security practitioners, nurses, mental health counselors, security technology, and distance learning during the pandemic. He also covers the new funding that’s now available through CARES and ARPA.

All of these developments will most likely positively impact school security and safety programs for years to come.

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