Public Safety (Police)

Leadership

Staff Senate

Off

Wed, 09/20/2023 - 16:49

Hawkins brings 20-plus years of U-M police experience and a love of the community to his ��-Dearborn Public Safety leadership role.

Police Chief Dave Hawkins Photo/Julianne Lindsey

Meet Jessica Johnson, our new emergency management and infrastructure security coordinator

lblouin — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:07:10 +0000

Meet Jessica Johnson, our new emergency management and infrastructure security coordinator lblouin Mon, 07/24/2023 - 13:07

In 2018, Jessica Johnson was just getting settled into her role on the emergency management team in the Division of Public Safety and Security at the ��-Ann Arbor campus. Her specialty was “continuity of operations,” an area that focuses on maintaining core functions of the university in the event of a catastrophic event. It’s something Johnson says people outside the emergency management world tend to not think much about. A little more than a year later, we'd of course all be thinking about continuity of operations. When COVID hit the U.S. in early 2020, universities were scrambling to figure out how to continue classes online, work remotely, make residence halls safe and ensure researchers could continue their work. “I went from having a pretty normal schedule to often working until 10 p.m. or midnight because we had to have 24/7 emergency support coverage,” Johnson says. “Every day, it was our responsibility to put together a big report with all the latest data about positivity rates, hospital bed utilization, cases on campus, the whole nine yards. That was our life, seven days a week for about a year.”

Thankfully, that intense pandemic experience didn’t burn Johnson out on preparedness work. She’s now bringing her expertise to the ��-Dearborn campus as the new emergency management and infrastructure security coordinator. Johnson, who holds a degree in homeland security from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, says it’s actually a fascinating time to be working in this space. For starters, she’s observed that the collective pandemic experience has made it easier to get community buy-in on preparedness planning, which could sometimes feel like pulling teeth before. In addition, there are some unique circumstances reshaping the preparedness landscape. The normalization of remote work and education has changed how we occupy and use our buildings, and with that comes the need for new strategies. Further, the prevalence of mass shootings, including the Feb. 13 incident on the Michigan State campus, has created a more visceral concern about physical security among students, faculty and staff.

Johnson says conversations about how to prepare for such an event are ongoing and evolving, stressing there is no easy, one-size-fits-all solution. “Every community has a different culture and it’s important to build your security strategies around things that the community feels comfortable with,” Johnson says. “Some people might feel safer with a more visible police or security presence, but we need to be mindful that other parts of our community might actually feel less safe in that environment, which is the opposite of what we want to achieve.” New infrastructure and technology will also likely be part of the path forward. But Johnson again stressed that whatever decisions are made have to reflect the community’s desires — and be well thought out. For example, she says institutions and businesses sometimes rush to equip themselves with elaborate camera systems, forgetting that they might not have the staff to actively monitor them.

In the more immediate future, Johnson is focused on ��-Dearborn’s Building Incident Response Team program. BIRT faculty and staff volunteers help coordinate emergency responses in particular buildings, and serve both as points of contact for building occupants in emergency situations and liaisons to first responders, who may need pertinent information upon arrival. Johnson says the growth of remote work and the fact that the university, like other workplaces, has experienced quite a bit of turnover since the pandemic mean that many BIRT units need new members. Thankfully, since her arrival on campus, she’s seen a lot of interest in participating in BIRT, as well as tabletop exercises, which can help leaders review and revise emergency plans.

“Continuous improvement is just the nature of the ever-evolving environment that is preparedness, safety and security,” Johnson says. “So we’re excited to dig in, talk with people and make updates to our plans so everyone feels safe and comfortable coming to work and learn on our campus.”

###

Have a specific question for our new DPSS Emergency Management and Infrastructure Security Coordinator Jessica Johnson? She’d love to hear from you. You can email her at jbjohns@umich.edu.

Leadership

Administration & Governance

Staff Senate

Off

Mon, 07/24/2023 - 17:06

Johnson brings years of experience on the Ann Arbor campus and a background in homeland security to ��-Dearborn.

Photo by Kathryn Bourlier

New policy focuses on maintaining campus safety

stuxbury — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 02:36:21 +0000

New policy focuses on maintaining campus safety stuxbury Mon, 10/10/2022 - 22:36

Employees identified as campus security authorities (CSAs) are required to report information about crimes to the university.

This is an obligation under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Act. The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to maintain and disclose crime statistics and security information to the public.

A new U-M policy — Standard Practice Guide 601.91, Clery Act Compliance — outlines the expectations of the U-M Division of Public Safety and Security and CSAs under the Clery Act. It applies to the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.

“The new policy increases awareness of the important role DPSS and CSAs have in maintaining campus safety and security,” said Eddie Washington, executive director of DPSS. “While employees identified as campus security authorities have an obligation to share information with campus police under the Clery Act, all members of the U-M community are encouraged to report any information about crime.”

DPSS/��-Dearborn DPS shares crime statistics publicly in an annual security report each October. The types of crimes covered include sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, theft and aggravated assault.

��-Dearborn DPS conducted a Campus Security Authority identification project, which identified all CSAs for the campus. All CSAs have been notified of their roles and responsibilities to train and report. Collaboration with DPSS/��- Ann Arbor is underway in establishing the new robust process to continue to identify, notify, train and track employees.

As noted under the policy, CSAs are required to complete annual training to help them understand their role and how to report information on crime to the university. The training is available through My LINC and needs to be completed annually.

Training for the CSAs was made available this summer. If there are employees who have not completed the training, ��-Dearborn Clery Compliance Coordinator Celia Robinson will work with the appropriate dean, director or department head to ensure compliance.

CSAs include:

All DPSS/��-Dearborn DPS personnel
Other individuals who have responsibility for campus security, but who do not work for DPSS/��-Dearborn DPS (including contracted security providers)
Officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities outside of the classroom, such as all deans, department chairs, directors, coaches, advisers to sponsored student organizations and anyone involved with children on campus. Faculty with no other leadership obligations generally are not CSAs

The new SPG policy was developed with input from the Clery Compliance Workgroup, including DPSS, the Office of the General Counsel and national experts on Clery Act compliance.

Note: CSAs are different than IROs.

CSAs differ from individuals with reporting obligations, known as IROs, who also have a responsibility under the U-M Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy to report information about certain crimes to the university.

IROs are required to share information with the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX office about alleged prohibited conduct under U-M policies, and include university administrators and supervisors and employees in certain designated positions and units or departments. Wondering if you are an IRO? Check out this chart.

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Tue, 10/11/2022 - 02:35

U-M has developed a new process to identify, notify, train and track employees who have responsibility under federal regulations to report certain crimes to the university.

Staff Spotlight: Brad Walvort

stuxbury — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:56:17 +0000

Staff Spotlight: Brad Walvort stuxbury Wed, 10/05/2022 - 14:56

Brad Walvort has experienced some once-in-a-lifetime events during his career that included three presidential inaugurations and a U.S. visit by Pope Francis.

Walvort, ��-Dearborn’s new associate director of Emergency Management, said he’s enjoyed working in emergency management and he credits finding his right career path to his alma mater — the University of Michigan.

Emergency Management Associate Director Brad Wolvart

Get to know more about ��-Dearborn’s new Emergency Management associate director, his career highlights, love of U-M sports, and his appreciation for campus' BIRT program — which he plans to continue strengthening.

Michigan sports were a staple of his undergrad — and, at work, he’s still hanging at the Big House.

“I was at U-M from 2006 to 2010. There were a lot of fun games that I went to with my dorm mates. With football, we started off with Lloyd Carr and then went into the Rich Rodriguez years. Even though we didn’t always win, it helped me appreciate wins more when we got them. For basketball — that’s my favorite sport — I was there when Michigan made it to the NCAA tournament in 2009 after a long drought. I even went to Kansas City to watch them play Clemson.

I still go to the games, but now I support the team in a different way. On the emergency operations side, we make sure there is a response for any situation that could arise. If there is someone having a reaction to a hot day, we get them water. If there is an unruly fan, we handle that situation. It’s not something that I thought much about when I was a student — but that’s a good thing. If you don’t think about it, it means the people in emergency operations are doing their jobs.”

This career fits with how his brain works.

“I’ve always been the person who thinks ahead and wants to know what I can expect, anticipate or predict. My mind creates possible scenarios and responses — so I want to be prepared…just in case. It drives my wife a little crazy. Lucky for me, I found a career where I can funnel that into a productive outlet.”

While in Washington, D.C., he saw three different presidential transitions.

“An internship I had while at Michigan got me out to Washington, D.C., eventually leading to a full time opportunity. I later worked in emergency operations for the House of Representatives, with the sergeant-at-arms in the Emergency Management Division.

While I was in Washington, D.C., I was part of three inaugurations — President Obama’s second one, President Trump’s inauguration and President Biden’s inauguration. These are major events and people were there to remember the moment. But when you are working, you’re trying to get through the next task on the list. You aren’t there as a spectator. You still absorb the experience, but it often only hits later when you think about all you saw and all you did.

Even if it’s not for a major event, try to get to Washington, D.C. if you haven’t been. Go to take a look at the Capitol lit up at night. It really is quite the sight.”

He’s a fan of the campus’ Building Incident Response Team (BIRT) program.

“I want people on campus to know that the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Emergency Management are here to help and that we have training to help you be prepared in case of an emergency. One of the best ways we can do that is to continue to build the BIRT program, which was created to promote a more coordinated emergency response for campus. But between managing the pandemic response and staff turnover, we can continue to grow. We want to help get re-trained for key responsibilities in leading emergency response actions. The faculty and staff on campus know their buildings and who is in them on a particular day more than anyone else — and we want to help team members be prepared and supported."

There’s no place like home.

“I like when people walk by and say, ‘hello’ or ‘good morning.’ I took that for granted until I left the state. People are really friendly here and I appreciate it more now. But, with that said, sometimes I am guilty of mentally being in emergency management mode and moving fast. Even if I appear to be walking with a purpose, please say hello. I want to get to know people on campus and I am grateful for this opportunity. This state and this university are my home — and I really couldn’t be happier to be here."

Staff Spotlight by Sarah Tuxbury.

Environmental Health and Safety

Leadership

Off

Wed, 10/05/2022 - 18:55

Get to know more about ��-Dearborn’s new Emergency Management associate director, his career highlights and his appreciation for campus' BIRT program — which he'll continue strengthening.

Photo of a 2017 ��-Dearborn BIRT program training exercise in Fairlane Center.

The Office of Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX has online resources available

stuxbury — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 21:55:25 +0000

The Office of Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX has online resources available stuxbury Wed, 01/12/2022 - 16:55

Graphic by Violet Dashi

New online tools are available to guide people on actions to take if you learn that someone on campus has experienced sexual and gender-based misconduct.

The ��-Dearborn Office of Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX (ECRT) website has created a suite of resources to help faculty and staff who are Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IROs) under the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy.

“People usually want to help, but may second guess if it’s their place to get involved or aren’t sure about who to reach out to report it to,” said ECRT Director and Title IX Coordinator Pamela Heatlie. “We want people to recognize inappropriate behavior, feel empowered to report it, and know where to go to do so. We also want faculty and staff who are obligated to report — Individuals with Reporting Obligations, also called IROs — to have readily available information and tools to help them report.”

In the IRO suite of resources, which is a menu item near the bottom of this webpage, there’s a flowchart to help people determine if they are classified as an Individual with Reporting Obligations and what that means, since the obligations can vary depending on the position the person holds. “All campus employees should review the flowchart to determine their status,” Heatlie said.

There is also an online course that contains a quiz to help individuals determine whether they are an IRO. In addition, the online course provides examples of sexual and gender-based misconduct, information on best practices for handling a disclosure, and other helpful information, such as confidential resources on campus.

There’s a sign that individuals can share in their physical and virtual workspaces to indicate that they are an IRO. However, as noted on the website, IROs should not depend on the sign entirely and should disclose that they are an IRO, as appropriate.

In 2021, the Office of Institutional Equity transitioned to ECRT. Heatlie said this change was in part to help people clearly know where to go with Title IX questions or concerns. Title IX is a civil rights law that provides that no person can be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance.

In addition to the mission being more recognizable in name, Heatlie said the office is working on a variety of programs that campus offices and individuals can use, like creating additional resource suites to provide needed tools in one location.

“Within our campus community we continue to build upon resources and provide information in useful ways. You can have a well-written policy, and it’s very important to have a good policy, but if people don't have the time to read it or don’t use it enough to retain the information in it, it’s not helpful for this purpose. So we want to create tools to make the information accessible.”

Another important change is the addition of campus staff to allow ECRT to increase its capacity to create new programming and educational resources.

Andrea McDaniel was hired as the ECRT deputy director. In addition to conducting investigations, McDaniel will help roll out “ready resources” like the new IRO reporting online resources. And Simone Dixon, ��-Dearborn's first project manager for Violence Prevention and Response Initiatives, went from having a temporary role funded by a Department of Justice grant to a fulltime permanent position.

Heatlie said these changes demonstrate the importance that diversity, equity and inclusion have in the campus’ strategic planning. She said ��-Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso supported and moved along these ECRT advancements.

“This was a change supported by leadership. That’s who made this happen. Chancellor Grasso is focused on supporting people in our community by providing resources that are needed for people to be successful and fulfill their potential.”

Heatlie said it's important to get the word out so people don’t feel alone and so that they get the information they need. These new resources will help spread awareness of the support available to the campus community.

“We want survivors to be only one or two people away — at most — from the information they need so that, if someone is in a situation where they experienced assault or harassment, they know where to go to get help and to stop that behavior.”

Campus Life

Inclusion or Diversity

Human Resources

Center for Social Justice and Inclusion

Off

Wed, 01/12/2022 - 21:50

The ��-Dearborn ECRT website has tools available to answer questions and to provide available resources regarding instances of sexual and gender-based misconduct, as well as other forms of discrimination and discriminatory harassment.

An intentional and focused campuswide step toward sexual violence prevention and survivor-centered support

stuxbury — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 18:33:50 +0000

An intentional and focused campuswide step toward sexual violence prevention and survivor-centered support stuxbury Wed, 12/16/2020 - 13:33

Taking steps to support sexual violence survivors

It’s important to provide education and support to students, faculty and staff about worldwide health and human rights concerns like sexual violence, relationship violence and stalking.

��-Dearborn is listed as one of Michigan’s safest public universities in rankings from sites like stateuniversity.com and, for transparency, an annual campus report shares instances of sexual misconduct brought to the attention of the university and the response. Center for Social Justice and Inclusion Director Shareia Carter says it is important to stay vigilant, transparent and prioritize safety, while also expanding sexual violence prevention efforts and providing dedicated support for survivors.

So Carter — along with Sociology Professor Pamela Aronson, Dean of Students Amy Finley, Public Safety Director and Chief of Police Gary Gorski, and Office for Institutional Equity Director Pamela Heatlie — worked together to secure a large federal grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to expand campus educational initiatives and support to sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking survivors.

The DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women recently awarded ��-Dearborn $300,000 over three years to hire a fulltime staff member to be a campus-based support person for survivors, to oversee the online education for incoming students, and to begin an in-person prevention education program specifically designed for our campus’ unique population of commuters and non-traditional students, as well as programming for faculty and staff. The grant proposal also includes a formal partnership with local nonprofit First Step to offer a 24/7 helpline for campus and more.

“We know that members of our community experience sexual and relationship violence and we continue to work to provide needed support, resources and options,” Finley says. “We are deeply committed to educating people on what this violence looks like, steps to take when you encounter this violence, and to let people know that there is a designated person on campus you can go to when you need support.”

Campus is currently in the hiring process for the director; the plan is to have the staff member in place during the Winter 2021 semester.

Heatlie says the new position will work closely with many campus offices and departments like the Department of Police and Public Safety and Counseling and Psychological Services. She says faculty and staff will continue their efforts to keep campus a safe place for all — but now there will be a centralized person dedicated to supporting sexual violence survivors and developing educational programs.

“This person will support the entire campus community — students, faculty and staff,” Heatlie says. “Meaningful support coming from a person who is trained in this area and responds in a caring and informative manner gives us a greater chance as an institution to help survivors stay engaged and involved with this campus.”

Aronson, whose research focuses on the transition to adulthood, says having a director will also give faculty members a point person to give when students share personal situations that include unhealthy relationship behaviors and/or relationship violence.

“We know there are organizations that can help, but students need a person who is nearby and trusted,” she says. “It’s really important to give students holistic support as they work toward their educational goals.”

Carter says the grant was a collaborative effort from many around campus — and she looks forward to continuing the conversation around sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence through future workshops, speaker panels and prevention education efforts.

“This grant is major for our campus. It’s taking a good effort on addressing these concerns and turning it into a great one. It allows us to expand what we have been doing and create intentional and engaging learning experiences that are right for our campus community.”

Health and Wellness

Off

Wed, 12/16/2020 - 18:30

Through a collaborative effort, ��-Dearborn secured a Department of Justice grant to expand campus educational initiatives and support services surrounding sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence.

Get Emergency Alerts

stuxbury — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 22:52:45 +0000

Get Emergency Alerts stuxbury Mon, 10/19/2020 - 18:52

Graphic for Emergency Alert

All three University of Michigan campuses moved to a new emergency alert notification system this weekend.

To help increase reliability, communication send time, reporting, and ease of use, U-M selected the Rave Alert platform.

In order to help accelerate the delivery of important emergency notifications, a secondary system has been added so that — when needed — emergency messages can be simultaneously posted to the university website, social media channels, desk and laptops, and digital message boards.

Faculty, staff and student contact information was pulled from the old system, Wolverine Access or ��-Dearborn Connect (for students). Students, faculty and staff are asked to verify their mobile number is correct in the system by Friday, Oct. 23.

��-Dearborn students, faculty and staff must sign into the network and accept the Rave Alert terms and conditions before verifying their information.

“One of the most important safety measures members of the ��-Dearborn community can take today is ensuring that they will receive an alert when there’s an emergency on campus,” says Emergency Management Director Laura Drabczyk.

While verifying your mobile number, students, faculty and staff can also add additional phone numbers in the system and enroll to receive alerts from any U-M campus.

The ��-Dearborn Emergency Alert is an urgent, mass notification system that keeps students, faculty and staff informed about major active emergencies on campus. The university uses the system to provide timely and accurate information that empowers members of the campus community to make critical decisions about their safety during an emergency.

Other ways to stay informed during an emergency? Twitter, Facebook, the ��-Dearborn homepage and ��-Dearborn digital displays across campus will share emergency information.

Environmental Health and Safety

Emergency Management

Off

Mon, 10/19/2020 - 22:50

U-M moves to new emergency alert notification provider, campus encouraged to verify information.

��-Dearborn is a StormReady university

stuxbury — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:34:08 +0000

��-Dearborn is a StormReady university stuxbury Wed, 03/25/2020 - 13:34

While the campus community is focused on taking the necessary steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it’s also important to remember spring weather safety. Severe Weather Awareness Week in Michigan is this week and it marks the approach of the state’s most unpredictable weather season, which is a good time to review plans in the event of inclement weather.

Recently, ��-Dearborn joined 284 other universities in the country with the StormReady certification from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS). NWS is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories.

StormReady universities are recognized because they are prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through advanced planning, education and awareness.

To be recognized as StormReady, a site must:

establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public
create a system that monitors local weather conditions
promote the importance of public readiness through multiple outreach efforts
develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises

According to NWS, Michigan experiences an average of 15 tornadoes a year. Although the greatest number occur between April and August, they can happen at any time.

��-Dearborn’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has tips for the campus community to prepare for and respond to various weather situations.

Sign up for ��-Dearborn Emergency Alerts. Messages are delivered when NWS issues a warning for a tornado or for winds of 75 mph or greater in Wayne County.
Know the difference between a storm "watch" and a storm '"warning." A "watch" means severe weather is possible. A "warning" means that severe weather -such as a thunderstorm or tornado- is occurring or is about to. When a warning has been issued, find shelter immediately.

If you are outdoors and see lightning, hear thunder or outdoor warning sirens, seek shelter immediately inside a sturdy building or vehicle. Monitor local media for official information.
The safest place to shelter is in an interior area on the lowest level of a building away from windows, doors and outside walls.

More information is available on the OEM Severe Weather website.

Emergency Management

Off

Wed, 03/25/2020 - 17:32

��-Dearborn has StormReady certification from the National Weather Service, the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the U.S.

Run, Hide, Fight training: What you need to know

stuxbury — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:12:42 +0000

Run, Hide, Fight training: What you need to know stuxbury Thu, 02/13/2020 - 10:12

In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, people at a gun range near the campus recalled a young man who was also at the range, shooting targets on the ground as he walked by them.

It was odd behavior that people noticed, but no one reported it at the time. People felt it was better to mind their own business — until that man killed 32 and injured 17 at the college.

“We now know he was practicing shooting fallen bodies and training himself to make sure to get people on the ground,” ��-Dearborn Security Lieutenant Tommy Williams said at a Run, Hide, Fight training on campus earlier this week. The Run, Hide, Fight protocol was developed by the Department of Homeland Security and the ��-Dearborn Department of Public Safety has tailored it to campus.

“In the years since that tragedy, law enforcement has learned, from talking to people who had contact with mass shooters, that there are often warning signs.”

The warning signs, and what to do if you spot any, are the updated focus on the campuswide training that began this month. Faculty, students and staff are encouraged to attend. Register for upcoming dates.

Williams — who’s facilitated the active shooter response training since they began on campus in 2015 — recently shared insight into why these sessions are important and how to best protect yourself and your colleagues from mass shootings, now a frequent backdrop of American culture.

Is ��-Dearborn a safe campus?

Yes, ��-Dearborn is a very safe campus, we work hard within the department to minimize risk to the campus community. But, as a nation, we have seen over the past 20 years that these incidents can happen anywhere. As a campus, we need to be prepared so we can stay safe.

Have you seen signs that mass shootings are beginning to decline?

Unfortunately, no. When I started doing these trainings five years ago, I thought these numbers would be on the decline by now. But there were more mass shootings across the U.S. in 2019 than there were days in the year (417). It was the highest number of mass shootings on record. I believe this 20-year period in America will be thoroughly studied by sociologists and historians to determine the root cause.

What is going on?

I can’t answer that, but studies have been done to look at the motivation of the shooter by talking to the few shooters who have survived their attacks. These men and women — often don’t want to live and they want to go out in a blaze of glory. You can’t reason with someone who’s at that point. So don’t try. Instead, protect yourself by running to a place of concealment or cover if that is an option or barricade yourself in your office with the door locked and furniture in the front of the door. The police will be on the scene within 3-4 minutes.

How can we prevent these types of incidents?

It’s all about getting law enforcement involved before it gets to that point. We’ve realized that there are signs that lead up to these incidents and we want people to recognize these warning signs so they can take action by letting someone — a supervisor, professor, C.A.R.E. team member or police — know.

Warning signs include:

• Obsession with firearms

• Studying previous mass shootings

• Announcement of violent intentions

• Violent gestures like pointing gun fingers

The key to prevention is talking to that individual before an incident occurs so that we can connect them to the support services or take more serious action if needed.

If someone reports warning signs, what happens next?

You’ll get a follow-up call from an officer to find out more about what you have witnessed. The individual will then be approached and asked questions. Your name will not be given. If the person is having difficulty where support services like counseling would help, they will be guided there. If more action is required based on what we find, we will take action. But you will remain anonymous.

If someone wants more information about this, what are the next steps?

Make sure you are signed up for Emergency Alerts. Go to a Run, Hide, Fight training. Watch the new video created for campus. And if you’d like more information, email Public Safety to have an officer work with your team for suggestions on a plan of action on how to best protect your spaces.

If you do see anything suspicious, know you can call DPPS at 313-593-5333. And, if there is an imminent threat, call 911.

Off

Thu, 02/13/2020 - 15:11

Police and Public Safety officer shares what's important to know when protecting yourself from an active assailant.

Leadership named for ��-Dearborn Department of Police and Public Safety

stuxbury — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:47:49 +0000

Leadership named for ��-Dearborn Department of Police and Public Safety stuxbury Fri, 05/03/2019 - 09:47

��-Dearborn Public Safety Director and Chief of Police Gary Gorski

Longtime law enforcement leader Gary Gorski has been named University of Michigan-Dearborn’s chief of police and director of public safety, effective June 17.

Gorski brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience to the role including 32 years with the Michigan State Police (MSP). He recently served Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids as the dean of students, protecting the health and welfare of more than 650 students and 40 faculty and staff.

Interim Police Captain Jim Knittel will serve as ��-Dearborn’s deputy chief, effective immediately.

Gorksi will report to Eddie L. Washington, Jr. the executive director of U-M Division of Public Safety and Security. He will work closely with Jeff Evans, ��-Dearborn's vice chancellor for business affairs.

“Gary has demonstrated strong leadership and team performance throughout his career," Evans said. "His strategic planning and implementation skills make him an excellent choice for this important leadership role on our campus."

Gorski served in several roles with weighted responsibilities within the MSP including executive leader, supervisor, trainer and investigator. He rose to the level of lieutenant colonel and served as the deputy director for the Specialized Services Bureau, which includes the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division and Intelligence Operations Division. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing MSP’s Cyber Section and the OK2Say program.

“Gary’s proven leadership skills, depth of law enforcement experience, and demonstrated commitment to servant leadership make him ideally suited to lead ��-Dearborn’s safety and security efforts,” Washington said.

Gorski holds a bachelor of applied science degree in public safety professions from Siena Heights University and is a graduate of the 204th session of the FBI National Academy.

“I am humbled and honored for this opportunity to serve as the next director of public safety and security at ��-Dearborn. I look forward to working with the department staff to support the entire ��-Dearborn community by providing a safe, secure and welcoming campus environment,” Gorski said.

Knittel has significant experience in managing multi-jurisdictional investigative units, including leading a federal task force and supervision of uniformed patrol operations. Most recently, Knittel has served as sergeant and interim captain within ��-Dearborn’s police and public safety department.

Before joining ��-Dearborn, Knittel served at the Farmington Hills police department where he was the most decorated officer in the department’s history. Knittel supervised the department’s DEA high-intensity drug trafficking area and organized crime drug enforcement task force for more than 10 years.

“In addition to Jim’s excellent credentials, he has proven himself as an outstanding leader and has been recognized as such by all on campus since he began over a year ago,” Evans said.

Knittel holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Madonna University and is in the process of earning a master’s degree in criminal justice from ��-Dearborn.

Business Affairs