Public Safety Update

The Kalamazoo Valley Community College Public Safety Department works tirelessly to ensure safety across all campuses. Officers respond to a wide variety of requests for service, offer safety training sessions and monitor the safety procedures that are already in place. “I think most people would be surprised by everything that we do,” said Public Safety Director Rick Ives.

The department responded to a total of 3,620 calls for service during 2012. Traffic enforcement, lock out assistance, jump starts, and assisting students or staff across campus are all examples of the types of service offered.

Recent accomplishments include upgrading the fire and emergency alarms at the Texas Township Campus, overseeing the installation of bi-directional antennas at TTC to provide communications with the emergency response community, completing emergency drills and training new employees on emergency preparedness procedures.

Officers inspect:

365 fire extinguishers monthly
34 eye wash stations weekly
80 emergency phones monthly
12 first aid stations semi-annually
26 AEDs monthly
225 cameras monthly

Outreach to the community includes participating in the annual Cougar Connection; conducting Rape Aggression Defense classes; serving on the DKI Safety Committee and the Michigan College Law Enforcement Executives Association; and co-hosting the EZ Memorial 5K Run.

Public Safety has also installed Emergency Preparedness Guides throughout the college, crosswalk stop signs, and have future plans to create and develop a campus-wide crime prevention program.

“We’re proud of our role and ready to assist,” said Ives.

For detailed information about Kalamazoo Valley Public Safety, see the Campus Safety and Security Report