Patrol Division

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Staff Job Responsibilities

Residence Hall Security Unit

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PATROL UNIT

Members of Villanova University's Department of Public Safety are duty-bound to render assistance and provide the best possible service to members of the Villanova community. The Department of Public Safety's patrol unit is a 24/7 operation comprised of three shifts of approximately 15 staff personnel each. Each shift is managed by a Lieutenant or Shift Manager and structured in the following manner: One Sergeant or Patrol Supervisor, one Corporal or Field Training Officer, two communications officers or dispatchers, and several patrol officers performing foot, vehicle, and bicycle patrol operations.

Similar to other campus security/law enforcement Departments, the Villanova Department of Public Safety provides many proactive services in pursuit of accomplishing its mission of : providing a safe and secure environment that is conducive to the learning process for all members of the University community. Additionally, the Department is responsible for the detection and prevention of crime and the enforcement of University rules and regulations.

Within the patrol unit, 20 personnel, both supervisors and officers, have received their Pennsylvania State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certifications and are prepared to collaboratively assist the Villanova Emergency Medical Services (VEMS) with providing necessary and critical patient care.

Villanova University is situated in a densely populated, congested suburban locale. The Department faces many difficult challenges in providing high quality service to the University's students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Developing and implementing effective strategies that fulfill this need often requires an innovative approach.

One such creative and proactive measure is the addition of the mountain bicycle patrol capability to existing Departmental patrol assets. A campus that presents the challenge of being large, yet also frequently congested makes traditional walking and vehicular patrols difficult to maneuver. Utilizing the bicycle patrol concept is the perfect answer to improving the University/Public Safety relationship.

Why have Public Safety officers on bicycles? Villanova is currently experiencing a period of sustained growth. As construction projects enhance and expand our physical plant, as our resident student population grows, as the traffic arteries that serve the area around Villanova undergo extensive renovations, the mission of the Department of public Safety increases in both size and complexity. What is needed by the Department are officers that are mobile enough to respond quickly to calls for service, as well as to maintain our closeness to the University community. Highly trained and motivated Public Safety officers patrolling on mountain bicycles provides the ability to meet all of these challenges.

Another creative and proactive measure is the development of a community service officer (CSO) program. The Department of Public Safety has designated several officers to act as a liaison between the community and the Department. These individuals are highly trained and motivated crime prevention specialist who have been certified as Pennsylvania State Crime Prevention Practitioners. The CSO's are an integral part of the Department of Public Safety's crime prevention efforts. Community service officers are assigned a particular section of the campus property to patrol on a regular basis. It is hoped that their presence in a particular area will enhance the relationship between them and the community. Community service officers provide students, staff, and faculty with regular crime prevention presentations and related activities.

The bicycle patrol unit and the community service officer program reflect a Public Safety Department that is modern, progressive and in tune with new and productive methods of effectively providing public safety services. The opportunity to serve the University community in an effective, people-oriented, positive fashion will build lasting bridges of confidence and trust that will span the entire campus. The Department of Public Safety is proud of its rich history and the services it provides for the entire Villanova community and their guests.

Residence Hall Security

Residence Hall Security, or Housing Security, was started in 1990. The purpose was to provide the University with added safety and security for the students and property within the female residence halls during the late evening/early morning hours; from 2230 to 0630 hours. Over the years this mission has held true; however, numerous modifications and adaptations have been made so we can better serve the Villanova community. As the University has expanded its residency program we have included co-ed and freshman male halls as part of our coverage, and in the past we have staffed anywhere from 9 to 14 residence halls. The department works closely with the Office for Residence Life to determine the number and type of halls we will be covering each academic year.

Housing Security's primary function is to supplement the card reader access system within the residence halls. The Housing Security Officers are responsible for verifying each identification card, ensuring the following: 1. The I.D. card is a picture I.D., 2. The I.D. card legitimately belongs to the person presenting the card, 3. Nobody is trying to enter the building unidentified or using someone else's I.D., and 4. Visitors and guests are signed in properly. Other duties include ensuring each residence hall is secured on a nightly basis, checking for vandalism or maintenance problems, assisting sick/injured individuals, assisting during fire alarms and/or evacuations, and being the initial point of contact for anyone who needs assistance or would like to report an incident. The purpose behind these duties is to ensure each Villanova resident student is safe and secure within their residence hall.

The Housing Unit is part of the Department of Public Safety and is presently comprised of one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, 14 full time officers and 3 part time officers. Housing Security has traditionally been an entry level position within the department, and serves as a catalyst for promotion into the patrol unit. Past members of the Housing Unit now hold positions as Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal's, Patrol Officer II's and Patrol Officer I's. Other members have gone on to work for municipal, state and federal law enforcement agencies as well. Current members come from unique backgrounds and have varying levels of experience; however, as a department we require officers to possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications: at least one year of experience within a security field, preferably university or college related; one year of college course work within security or criminal justice, or Act 120 certification (Municipal Police Officers Training Academy). Officers themselves may previously have been police officers, corporate security officers, contract security officers, university/college security officers as well as a number of other professions. Additionally, some have completed varying levels of college course work, police/security training and/or CPR, first responder and EMT certifications.

Housing Security's success as a unit rests in its flexibility and adaptation. At one time or another Housing Security Officers have staffed all but two residence halls on campus. The unit has almost ten years of service with the University, and everyone associated with the unit looks forward to serving the students and University for many more.