Campus security budget increases
By Taylor Bullard , News Writing Student
OCCC’s Safety and Security office will budget for increased security in the fall semester according to the annual Safety and Security spending reports.
The new budget includes increased technology that will ensure the college is a safer place for students and faculty, Campus Security and Safety director Ike Sloas said.
According to the 2008-2009 Safety and Security reports, the new budget has broken $1 million. More than $100,000 will be spent on new technology.
New cameras, ID scanners and general upkeep are all part of the new plans.
The college is under surveillance by 42 cameras, located both inside and out.
Twelve cameras overlook 2,700 parking spaces surrounding the campus, and the interior of the buildings are carefully watched by another 30 cameras, Sloas said.
In addition, 40 new cameras are being installed between the summer and fall semester, he said.
The majority of the cameras will be installed inside the college, but a small number will be installed outside of the building to ensure the OCCC parking lot is under complete surveillance, he said.
Another new piece of technology that will be in use starting this fall will be a set of three ID scanners.
According to the Safety and Security budget report, two scanners will be installed in each patrol vehicle and one in the Safety and Security office.
Sloas said the scanners will help campus security ensure that anyone walking on campus late at night is either an OCCC student or faculty member.
The new technology will make it easier for Security guards at the college to be on watch during hours of operation, Sloas said. But the same number of guards will be on duty as were last semester. Five armed officers will be on duty at all times.
Student Clay Kennard said he believes OCCC is making the right choices in establishing more safety at the college.
“It seems to me that the college has taken all the necessary precautions to protect the students.”
The safety and security budget also covers the lease of two security vehicles that students will often see patrolling campus.
Sloas said the patrolling SUVs are “A really good deterrent for any potential crime.”
Seventeen armed officers and three dispatchers will make up the entire OCCC security force next semester.
Five of those officers will be on duty from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 4 p.m. through midnight, Sloas said.
Although new measures are being taken to ensure safety on campus, Sloas said, the new equipment is simply a precaution and in no way implies students at OCCC are in danger.
“Students at the college should feel very safe.” Sloas said.
For more information, contact Ike Sloas at 682-1611, ext. 7891.
