University Police Department
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The University of Montevallo Police Department would like to welcome everyone to the University for the 2008-2009 school year. Also, thank you for taking the time to read the inaugural bi-monthly news letter from the Police department. Now that the New school year has gotten well under way and everyone has settled in, we look forward to an outstanding year and one where we can all move forward in whatever endeavor that we are striving to complete.
Note from Interim Chief Tyree
I was not blessed with many gifts, but I was blessed with one, athleticism. I have always been an athlete. As an athlete, I have enjoyed the thrill of competition. This has attracted me to winning teams and growing communities. Although I do not compete in sports or athletics very much anymore, I still have the spirit of competition and I bring it into my work. That’s what attracted me to the University of Montevallo Police Department in the first place. Eight years ago, when I arrived on Campus, I found a good Police Department, but being competitive in nature, I wanted to help take this agency from Good to Great. The first step in our never-ending journey from good to great is to know the difference between good and great and how we are going to get there. Like in Jim Collins Book: Good to Great, one of the first principles in making that determination is who should be on the bus and who should be off the bus. After making that decision we then figure out who should have what seats on the bus and who is driving the bus. That is what I have been doing with the department's reorganization since being appointed Interim Police Chief on February 1, 2008. I am determining who should be in what seats on the bus so we can begin our journey from Good to Great. Of course, I’m the driver and although we may have a wild ride or two, I promise not to drive us off the cliff. More about this journey next time. Remember, my door is open for suggestions, questions, or concerns about the safety and security of everyone on our campus. Sincerely, Shelley Tyree, Interim Chief of Police
R.A.D. Classes will be offered soon
Two University of Montevallo Police officers attended the Rape, Aggression and Defense (R.A.D) Self Defense Instructor Certification Course at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Officer Brian Prady and Officer Stephanie Bowman are now certified instructors in the R.A.D. Self Defense System. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive program of self defense tactics for women. It begins with awareness, prevention, risk education and risk avoidance while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense tactics. The course includes lecture, discussion, and self defense techniques. It is only offered to women. More information will be made available to faculty/staff and students in the near future. Any Female Student, Faculty or Staff that is interested in one of our classes, please contact UM police at extension # 6155 or email umpolice@montevallo.edu . The first class will be taught on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.
UMPD hires two new officers
The University of Montevallo Police Department recently hired two new police officers, Officer Chadd Adams and Officer Freddie Chapman. Officer Adams comes to us from Anniston Police Department. He has been in law enforcement for a total of 18 years. He has worked for numerous departments during his career including Jacksonville State University, Oxford Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force of Marshall County. Officer Chapman comes to us from Habersham County Sheriff's Office in Georgia. He has been in law enforcement for 18 years, 5 of those in corrections. During his career he has worked for numerous law enforcement agencies in the State of Georgia including Tallulah Falls Police Department Piedmont College Campus Police and the City of Demorest Police Department. The University Police Department welcomes these two officers and we feel they bring vast knowledge of Law Enforcement to our department and will serve the UM Community well.
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UMPD Purchases Dodge Chargers
After many years of good service, UMPD had to retire the two older patrol vehicles. One, a 2002 Chevrolet Impala will be auctioned off at the next University auction. The other, a 2001 Chevrolet S-10 has been put into use by the University locksmith. Both vehicles began to require numerous repairs and it was more responsible to replace them. UMPD went to the state bid list to find its two new cars, both 2008 Dodge Chargers. The police officers felt they needed a larger vehicle than the Chevrolet Impala, but we still needed the fuel economy of a V-6. The most popular police cruiser, a Ford Crown Victoria only comes with a V-8. The two new Chargers were purchased with the police package already installed from the state bid dealership in Auburn, Al. We look forward to many years of service out of these new vehicles.
Mass Notification Systems
The University Police Department, hopes that over the past few months we have made many strides to increase the safety and welfare of everyone on campus. In the wake of several recent events that have happened across our great Country, we would like to revisit a program which we started during last school year. This program is called SchoolCast. This is a mass notification system which can notify you in the event of an emergency. At the click of a button or simply moving the mouse on a computer, we can send out a text, e-mail or phone call and notify as many as twenty thousand people within a matter of minutes. This program will enable us to keep you updated as soon as an event happens in order to keep you and other individuals safe. This will certainly benefit the campus community in events such as a school shooting, dangerous person on campus or even a bank robbery that happens next to campus but it also will enable the University to let everyone know of inclement weather and school closings. There are many benefits to this program that far exceeds the monetary value that was spent to keep everyone safe and secure. To sign up for SchoolCast, you will receive an e-mail on your ForUM e-mail, or you can go to myschoolcast.com, there will be a link to click on and you will be able to register all your information. Please feel free to place any loved ones information on this registration in order for them to receive the same information that you will receive during an emergency event. If you have any questions concerning the SchoolCast program, please contact Chadd Adams at UMPD (6155) umpolice@montevallo.edu or Corey Stewart at the University Physical Plant. (6130)
October is Fire Prevention Month
During National Fire Prevention Week, October 5 - 11, 2008 attention is focused on promoting fire safety and prevention, however we should practice fire safety all year long. Many potential fire hazards go undetected because people simply do not take steps to fireproof their residence. Since 2000, there have been 113 campus-related fire fatalities in the United States, according to Campus Firewatch, a monthly newsletter that focuses on campus fire safety; 20 occurred in the 2006-07 academic year. The more educated and aware students, faculty and staff are of how to prevent fires and handle emergency situations, the better our campus will be if one should arise.
Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know signed by President The Higher Education Act,
which contains provisions from the
Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act introduced by
Congressman Pascrell (NJ-8) and
Senator Lautenberg (NJ), was
signed into law on Thursday, August 14, 2008, by President Bush. This landmark legislation was first introduced in 2001 and has been under consideration in every session of Congress since then. In a prepared statement, Congressman Pascrell said, “I would also like to recognize the dedication of Campus Firewatch and the Center for Campus Fire Safety over the last 8 years to help provide information, advocate our cause and organize the support Senator Lautenberg and I needed to move this legislation through Congress.“
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