Dear Campus Community,
Welcome back to campus! As we embark on a new academic year, I want to extend a warm greeting to both our returning community members and those joining us for the first time.
As your Chief of Police, my primary goal is to ensure that you all have a safe and enjoyable experience on campus.
We have many services that we offer folks, one example is our ”escort service”. This is where a uniformed police officer or campus safety officer will pick you up at your present location and bring you to a different on-campus location such as your residence hall or to your vehicle. This service is available whenever public safety personnel are not on another call. If someone is unavailable, the dispatcher will advise you where to wait in a secure location and how long the delay may be.
Public Safety also offers training that covers Active Attackers, De-Escalation, and Stop the Bleed to the campus community. These trainings are designed to both inform and engage our community to help ensure the safety and security of all those that live, work, and visit campus.
We have had some recent improvements to our 911 system so I’d like to highlight a few important safety measures and updates:
Please make sure to sign up for all campus alerts. These alerts will keep you informed about changes in weather conditions that could affect campus operations, as well as any incidents you need to be aware of. Staying updated will help you make informed decisions and ensure your safety.
For those driving to campus, remember to lock your vehicles and keep valuables out of sight. This simple step can help prevent theft and ensure that your belongings remain secure.
Our new communications system routes all emergency calls 911 calls to Cumberland County Dispatchers, who then dispatch our campus police. This process is designed to provide prompt assistance in emergency situations.
For all non-emergency calls please ring USM Public Safety on 5211 and speak with one of our dispatchers. We also have a phone tree which may be in operation. The Department of Public Safety system also includes a phone tree for direct connections with Resident Life staff, Facilities Management, and Campus Police. For non-office hours, the on-call Administrator will assist with connecting you to Residence Life and Facilities Management via the Phone Tree.
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
I look forward to working with you all and wish you a successful and enjoyable academic year!
Take care and stay safe,
Sincerely,
Gráinne Perkins, PhD.
Chief of Police
Vice President of Public Safety