As shootings increase across the United States, according to National Public Radio, the University of Rhode Island provides resources to help the community stay safe.
URI Emergency Management aims to minimize the impact of violence by responding effectively, according to Sam Adams, the assistant director of public safety and the emergency management director. From the emergency management perspective, workers are prepared to help the police neutralize the threat as quickly as possible.
Public safety and emergency management workers make sure they aren’t in a reactive position when it comes to preparedness, according to Adams. If there’s a new threat or incident that requires attention, public safety communicates and thinks of how to incorporate it into their training.
URI Public Safety have implemented types of campus security precautions including license plate and building card readers, electronic locks and visitor management, according to Paul Ricci, the deputy police chief at URI. These security implementations allow public safety to live monitor and review past events and to stop them from reoccurring.
“We have what we need to save lives and that’s really the goal,” Ricci said.
License plate readers, which track cars coming into campus, are part of the physical security infrastructure, according to Adams. The readers are placed on mobile devices with parking enforcement and will be added to campus entrances. This way, if there’s someone public safety is looking for that they know is a threat, they can be detected as soon as they enter campus.
There are more than 1,000 security cameras across URI campuses, according to Adams. The security system uses AI that detects abnormal events. Public safety continues to make improvements, with a pilot project for a new access control system for a few campus buildings.
“It’s not a response to any one incident,” Adams said. “It’s a response to the changing threat climate that we face.”
Public safety also provides Citizen’s Response to An Active Shooter training, or CRASE, for the URI community, according to Ricci. The training teaches strategies on how to respond to an active shooter.
“I think it’s good that everybody knows what to do and is prepared without causing any harm,” Ricci said.
URI public safety keeps up with emergency situations across the U.S., according to Ricci. To track incidents, public safety monitors the internet, allowing them to track trends to recognize the warning signs before an incident occurs. By tracking internet trends, public safety is able to stop concerning behavior on campus before it escalates.
One thing everyone can do if they see something, is say something, according to Ricci. Students should pay attention and have situational awareness. The police rely on the public to check incidents out. If tips come in, they are treated seriously.
If someone like a friend or family member is in crisis, it’s okay to reach out to the police, according to Ricci. The police will steer them in the right direction and towards resources available to them, such as Counseling Crisis and Mental Health First Aid.
“Nobody’s ever going to be faulted for looking out for somebody,” Adams said.
If you want to be a part of active shooter training or learn how to help the community, go to https://web.uri.edu/police/crase/.
