Survey: Campus Agencies Lack Staff, Weapons

Nearly half of university/college police or security departments don't have enough staff or weapons to appropriately respond to incidents, according to a survey published by Campus Safety magazine, a sister publication of POLICE Magazine.

The magazine's "How Safe Is Your Campus?" survey also covers wages, officer morale, active shooter/bomber response preparedness, sexual assault policy, alcohol policy, resources and emergency management issues.

View the results from the Campus Safety's "How Safe Is Your Campus?" Survey

Some highlights from the study include:

• One in three respondents say their police and/or security personnel aren't paid a fair wage for their duties.

• 35 percent either disagree somewhat or strongly with the statement: "If an active shooter or bomber came onto my campus, my department and my institution would be able to respond effectively."

• More than four in five (82%) strongly agree or agree somewhat that their departments' relationships with other jurisdictions  are well developed and fully functional.

Administrators Take Campus Public Safety Seriously

A significant percentage of college and university respondents indicate they are receiving good support from campus administration. Four out of five (80 percent) say their top administrators take safety and security on campus seriously , and 65 percent say they have enough authority to carry out their responsibilities appropriately. Still, that leaves more than one in four who either disagree somewhat or strongly with the statement: " I have enough authority to do my job well ."

Lack of resources is another challenge, which, in light of the current economic recession, it's not surprising. Two in five say their institutions don't dedicate enough money, resources and personnel to campus safety and security efforts and technology . Still, 60 percent expect that the same or more resources will be dedicated to safety and security in 2011.

Emergency Preparedness Gets High Marks

University respondents generally express a high level of satisfaction with most aspects of their campus' emergency management programs.

Hazmat incident preparedness is the one significant weakness, however. Nearly a third of respondents (29 percent) either disagree somewhat or strongly with the statement "My campus is adequately prepared for a hazmat incident." One in five survey takers are not satisfied with their institution's emergency/crisis plans (20 percent) or weather emergency/ natural disaster preparedness (21 percent).

Click on the links below to see how survey takers responded to the following statements:

• My department has enough staff to respond appropriately to incidents.

• Overall, compared to 2010, I expect the amount of money and resources my institution will dedicate to campus safety and security in 2011 will be: the same, more or less.

• Overall, compared to 2010, I expect the number of full-time or part-time police or security personnel my institution will dedicate to campus safety and security in 2011 will be: the same, more or less.

• My department's and institutions relationships with agencies from surrounding communities and other jurisdictions are well developed and fully functional.

• My department has enough and the right type of lethal and less lethal weapons to appropriately respond to an incident.

• If an active shooter or bomber came onto my campus, my department and my institution wold be able to respond effectively.

• My institution's top administration officials take safety and security on campus seriously.

• My institution dedicates enough money, resources and personnel to campus safety and security efforts and technology.

• I have enough authority to do my job well.

• Drug and alcohol abuse are handled effectively by my department and institution.

• Sexual assualts are handled effectively by my department and institution.

• Domestic/dating violence is appropriately addressed by my department and institution.

• My institution has appropriate emergency/crisis plans that are up to date.

• My campus is adequately prepared for a weather emergency or natural disaster.

• My campus is adequately prepared for a hazmat incident.

• My campus is adequately prepared for a pandemic flu outbreak.

Editor's Note: Campus Safety Magazine is a sister publication of POLICE Magazine.