June 13, 2006

Broome Community College Announces
Plans To Create Campus Safety Department

-Plan Will Add Officers, Increase Level Of Training And Safety & Save Money-

(TOWN OF DICKINSON, NY) Broome Community College President Dr. Laurence Spraggs today announced the College is currently in the process of hiring and staffing a new Campus Safety Department, and will no longer contract with Broome Security. The new BCC Campus Safety Department is scheduled to be fully implemented by August 1, 2006.

The decision to move forward with the implementation of an internal, on-campus department at this time comes on the heels of a recent announcement from Broome Security to discontinue security service to the College. The County advised BCC of the decision in a one-page letter on May19.   

The New York State Court System plans to absorb County security officers across the state, making them state employees, in an attempt to enhance operations at the state level. As part of this transition, the State will absorb a sizable portion of the current Broome Security force, which means the County will hire new officers and transfer current ones to meet their own public safety needs.

“The College has been evaluating how security is provided and has been working on a plan to transition to its own safety department over the course of the last two years,” said BCC President Dr. Laurence Spraggs. “The decision by the State to absorb Broome Security Officers requires the College to take action at this time, but also provides a key opportunity to change, and significantly enhance, the way security is administered on campus,”

New York State requires all County Security Officers to have 35 hours of training. Broome County requires their Security Officers to have 80 hours of training, more than twice what the state requires.  New York State requires Community College Peace Officers to undergo 327 hours of training.

”Utilizing Peace Officers will significantly improve the quality, caliber and training of our security,” continued Dr. Spraggs. “Protecting our students and staff continues to be a top priority and the new Safety Department will enhance the level of service provided while also increasing accountability because the Peace Officers will be College employees and report directly to BCC Officials.” 

The new department will consist of 11 individuals, which includes administration and clerical staff. Previously Broome Security provided four officers. The new Peace Officers will be armed with flashlights, handcuffs, radios, a baton and pepper spray. Broome Community College Peace Officers will not carry any firearms. 

”We are in the process of finalizing the procedures for the Campus Safety department, and the manual has been crafted using similar procedures that Peace Officers at other New York Community Colleges have in place,” added Dr. Spraggs. “By implementing the plan over the summer the College can transition seamlessly and be fully functional by the start of the fall semester.”

While staffing the Safety Department and training the Peace Officers BCC will hire, and is currently in negotiations with, a security firm to assist with coverage during this transition period. The Broome County Sheriff’s Department will also assist the College during the transition period by providing routine checks during the overnight hours.

“The focus of the Peace Officers will also change,” highlighted Dr. Spraggs. “In addition to law enforcement, the Peace Officers will also provide a range of student oriented services such as awareness training, conflict resolution and protection seminars.”

Even with the addition of new officers, training and services, the new department will not increase any costs to the College.