DPS upgrades training, equipment

Updated 1:00 PM May 19, 2003

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DPS upgrades training, equipment

By Diane Brown
Facilities and Operations

Orange alert. Homeland Security. Emergency preparedness. U.S. Patriot Act. How our language has changed since Sept. 11, 2001.

Numerous changes have occurred as well at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to respond to the heightened state of alert. With a large population of 37,000 students, 30,000 faculty and staff, and thousands of patients and visitors, the U-M campus presents unique safety and security challenges. Additional programs, enhanced training and upgraded equipment have increased the overall preparedness of the department.

"Our mission has not changed, but our environment has."
— DPS Director William Bess

"We are responsible for providing services that enhance the safety and security of all persons on the Ann Arbor campus," says William Bess, director of DPS. "Not a day goes by that we don't host special visitors on our campusbe they government officials, corporate dignitaries, well-known athletes, award-winning scholars or organ-transplant patients.

"Our mission has not changed, but our environment has, so we've provided our officers with specialized training and equipment to enhance their response to a wider variety of scenes and threats."

During the last two years, select DPS officers have furthered their advanced training in handling hazardous materials response, incident command and evidence gathering. New specializations have been added, including a canine program, accident investigators and emergency operations coordination. Two dogs trained to detect weapons and explosives as well as track people have been well-received by the University community in their first year.

Capt. Joe Piersante, commander of police services, coordinated many of the enhancements. "With the increased potential of terrorism, workplace violence and school eruptions that we live with in the world each day, we've prepared our officers to respond. The enhancements have increased our overall effectiveness in providing police and security services to our community."

In addition to training and new programs, DPS has upgraded equipment and procedures, including new protocols for responding to chemical and biological incidents. "Our personal protective equipment has been upgraded and officers are trained to use a self-contained breathing apparatus," Piersante says. "We can respond appropriately to incidents which might involve biological, chemical or radioactive materials.

"We also can investigate scenes involving injuries or high-profile accidents. Some of our new equipment and training provide our officers with the ability to deliver less lethal defensive tactics or respond to threats from active shooters. Through the enhanced training, equipment and programs, we can respond to more situations in a timely and effective manner to control the situation or interdict as appropriate," he says.

DPS also has strengthened many relationships with other emergency responders and law enforcement agencies. DPS staff meet regularly with officers from other Washtenaw County law enforcement agencies, including the Ann Arbor Police, along with the FBI and Ann Arbor Fire Department.

"We've conducted joint training programs and drills with other agencies," Piersante says. "In some cases, we've implemented integrated protocols for incidents that potentially will involve several agencies such as U-M's Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, the Ann Arbor police and fire departments and the FBI. Our meetings have been invaluable in sharing information and assessing threat information disseminated at the national level."

Enhanced emergency planning, training, programming and equipment have helped DPS officers respond to changing needs for emergency operations, safety and security in the U-M community, Bess says.

DPS upgrades training, equipment

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