Trained for Quick Response
Pocatello’s school board recently voted to place semi-automatic rifles in gun safes at each of Pocatello’s middle and high schools, making them easily available to the schools’ resource officers. Steve Chatterton, Idaho State University’s director of Public Safety, said that would not be the best option for ISU’s campus safety.
“City police officers already have all of the equipment they need with them or in their vehicles,” said Chatterton, “so there’s no need for them to do that.”
Because ISU Public Safety officers do not carry firearms, the Pocatello Police Department is called when any threat of violence on campus is present.
Pocatello police have “always been very quick,” according to Chatterton.
Chatterton explained how ISU Public Safety officers work closely with Pocatello police and other emergency response teams. They have trained together to prepare for emergency situations.
Chatterton recalled the time last July when Public Safety trained with the police department’s SWAT team at ISU-owned apartments due for demolition on South Fifth Avenue.
“They were blowing off doors,” Chatterton said.
Rod Jackson, who is in charge of communications for Public Safety, stressed the importance of speed and efficiency in an emergency situation.
“We want to get the info out as quick as possible to keep everybody safe,” said Jackson.
Public Safety uses an alert system called RAVE to send emergency notifications to anyone associated with the campus when necessary. These include alerts about campus closures, gas leaks and threats of violence.
Mounted on a wall inside the Public Safety building is the office’s command center.
“It’s our one-stop shop,” said Jackson.
Four large screens hang at eye-level, displaying a national news channel, campus surveillance and a touchscreen monitor used to send RAVE alerts when necessary.
The touchscreen, preprogrammed with stock campus alerts, can be used to send the alerts in a matter of seconds. If an unusual situation arises, Public Safety officers can quickly alter the content or recipients of the message without sacrificing crucial response time.
“Time is of the essence,” said Jackson.
Not only can the alerts be sent from the Public Safety office command center but the dispatchers, all student employees, have two touchscreens displaying the same program.
“Our dispatchers are really great,” said Chatterton. “They are dedicated and smart.”
Additionally, the RAVE system can be accessed from any of Public Safety’s laptops and mobile devices. They can send an alert from anywhere on campus or even another state, said Chatterton.
Public Safety officers are always available on campus.
“We’re open 24/7,” said Chatterton.
On weekends, when the officers see an increase in calls, their shifts overlap so more officers are working at one time.
“We also use student officers out of the law enforcement program to help,” said Chatterton.
ASISU President Matt Bloxham discussed the effectiveness of ISU’s Public Safety system.
“I feel like they’re pretty well prepared for a lot of emergencies that could happen on campus,” he said. “With Bengalerts and the security poles around campus, Public Safety is pretty accessible.”
Asked about the idea of placing gun safes in ISU buildings, Bloxham responded, “I think it seems kind of strange.”
In addition to Public Safety officers on campus, Chatterton also described the system of surveillance cameras on the Pocatello campus and in Meridian and Idaho Falls.
Over 400 cameras are placed around the Pocatello campus alone. Large screens in the Public Safety building and dispatch center display rows of live feeds from the cameras, switching from different parts of campus on a programmed schedule.
A system of speakers around campus is available to Public Safety in order to issue alerts as well.
