|
 |
Edison State Establishes New Police Department
The Edison State Community College Department of Public Safety has
changed dramatically over the past 18-months. After a very successful
history creating a safe campus environment, and based on changing
campus safety and security standards, the Department of Administration
and Finance determined the need for an armed presence on campus. Safety
had been maintained through some very well-designed physical security
measures and competent security guards contracted to serve the college.
In mid-2019, a search was conducted for a Director of Campus Safety and
Security. Bruce Jamison, retired Chief of Police from the City of Piqua
Police Department, was brought on board and found support from
administration and trustees to form a police department to meet the
needs of a growing college with multiple campus locations through
professional law enforcement. A police department was established by
meeting the requirements of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office–the
first new police department in the state in about five years.
In early 2020, Chief Jamison swore in the first two police officers of
the Edison State Police Division. Both of which are well known on
campus, have been students, and served as security officers for a
number of years–Adam DeBrosse and Ragan Williams. Officer DeBrosse, a
Piqua resident, had served as a Security Guard through a private
company until he completed the Edison State Police Officer Academy,
when he was hired by the college as its first armed security officer.
Officer Williams, of Lima, had attended Edison State as a
student-athlete on the Volleyball team. She completed the Edison State
Police Officer Academy in December of 2019.
At about this same time, a vacancy occurred for the contracted security
guard that worked evenings at the Greenville Campus. Campus Security
Officer Joe Speer, a retired police lieutenant from Piqua Police
Department, who lived and worked in Covington, accepted the part-time
job as an Edison State employee. He also began assisting in the
establishment of professional standards for the department and the
development of a policy manual for the newly formed police department.
As campus vulnerabilities were assessed by the new staff, the need for
improvements to emergency operation plans was identified. Jim Bowell, a
Troy resident who had retired from the Troy Fire Department and was
working part-time for the Miami County Emergency Management Agency,
agreed to join the department as a Reserve Officer in the position of
Emergency Management Specialist.
“We continued to work to establish the most professional police
department possible when it hit-the COVID-19 pandemic. Campus Safety
and Security staff were in the building as we worked on emergency plans
with every part of the college to find ways for our students to
complete their educational goals in the midst of a global crisis,” said
Jamison.
Jim Bowell was then hired as a part-time Operations Center Manager. As
the Department implemented safety measures that included screening
every person that came into campus buildings, we also knew that the
permanent safety improvements would require additional staff, both at
the Piqua and Regional Campuses.
Staff expansion of the Department of Public Safety began in earnest to
meet these new needs and prepare for the future with the support of
Edison State’s President and her cabinet. A strategic plan was
developed that would provide armed police protection at all times
classes are in session at the main campus, with police support at all
regionals, and security at all facilities when the buildings are in use.
Campus Security Officer Al Decker was the next on board. He screens and
greets the Piqua Campus employees on their arrival Monday through
Thursday. He is retired from developmental disabilities services as an
investigator and a manager after a long career in social work. He
assists with crisis intervention needs and has already applied his
extensive interviewing skills to assist during background
investigations of new employees.
In the past few months, Edison State has searched for, interviewed, and
conducted extensive background investigations to hire five more
part-time Campus Security Officers and one more full-time Campus Police
Officer. While it is too early to announce the Campus Police Officer
due to COVID-related delays in polygraph examinations, the college is
proud to introduce the five new Campus Security Officers.
• Jordan Shellabarger, of Piqua, has experience as a Corrections Officer in a county jail.
• Brooke Dunlevy, of Bradford, is a former standout
student-athlete on the Women’s basketball team with a degree in
Criminal Justice who also works with youth in a local juvenile court
system.
• Amanda DeCola, of Springfield, was formerly an armed security officer at a local university.
• Ed Sauers, of Piqua, is a military veteran and former corrections officer.
• Earl Briggs, of Sidney, holds extensive experience as a security officer in a variety of settings.
“Our young department has enjoyed tremendous support and appreciates
this greatly. We know we have responded well to the safety concerns
presented by the pandemic and are committed to continue to proactively
serve all members of the campus community as we work together with them
to stay safe while enabling students to complete their educational
goals and realize their dreams at Edison State,” added Jamison.
|
|
|
|
