Are you Ready?

As we fast approach the beginning of a new school year, we must ask ourselves the question. ARE WE READY?

Take a look around your campus. Make sure that maintenance items that need to be addressed are done quickly. Though this doesn't sound much like a security concern, it really is. If you campus looks run down or in a sad state of repair you are inviting crime to your campus. If it looks as if nobody cares you will find that criminals might take that to mean that you also don't care about crime. It is a psychological way of letting people know you care about all aspects of your campus.

Don't forget to check the street lights near your campus. Security should contact your local power company or city maintenance department to have street lights repaired. You can help facilitate repairs by making it easy to spot the light that is in need of repair. One school's security department marks the lights with yellow caution tape. It is available at Home Depot, Lowes, Galls and many other sources. Leave enough dangling that the breeze will cause it to move freely. This will make it easy for the repair people to spot because they usually do the repairs in the day time. (Why? I don't know!)

Check your own lighting. Have maintenance check your campus lights to make sure they are in proper working order. A dark corner of campus is very inviting to a criminal. Also, take a look in your dormitories and other buildings for fire exit lights that are not working. While you are in the buildings check to see that emergency lights operate in case of a power failure.

Take the remaining days of down time and check your radios, repeaters, vehicles, uniforms and see that all other equipment is in proper working order. In addition, while you are checking on things, make sure that any certifications that are necessary are up to date. This might include O.C. certification, baton, handcuffing, firearms training, practice and qualification, all in-service training and other requirements of your state.