September 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

Dear UMB Community:

I am honored and incredibly humbled to be named your University of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (UMBPD) Chief of Police. I want to thank every security officer, police communication operator, administrative staff member, and police officer who make us an award-winning, community-oriented police department.

I am not new to UMB. I have spent the last five years building relationships, listening to our community, and creating much-needed stability. I am proud of the progress UMBPD has made, but I know the journey is long. I am committed to continuing down that path with you and our partners. I can’t change the wrongs of hundreds of years of policing, but together we can work to do better moving forward.

I may have a new title, but I am the same Tom Leone you have come to know. I’m excited to get to work as your new Chief of Police, and I know that together we will create a safer UMB.

Sincerely,

Thomas Leone, MS

UMB Chief of Police

Public Safety Update

Safety Tip of the Month: Walk in Groups

Going for a walk is great for your physical and mental health. Whether you’re getting some exercise, grabbing lunch, or heading home for the day, there’s safety in numbers. Consider walking with a friend or colleague, know where you’re going, and put away phones and valuables. No one to walk with? Call 410-706-6882 to request a UMBPD Safe Walk on campus 24/7.

Our Safe Ride service also is available between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. on UMB’s campus and in our neighboring communities. Request a ride through the Mobile UMB App or by calling 410-706-6882. Learn more.

Serving Our Community

Security Officer Appreciation Week: Sept. 20-24

Sept. 20-24 is Security Officer Appreciation Week. Our security officers welcome employees, students, and visitors to UMB buildings, patrol our campus, provide Safe Rides and Safe Walks, and do so much more! Be sure to say “thank you” to our many hard-working security officers across UMB.

Join Us for Our Quarterly Safety Awareness and UMBPD Updates

Our Safety Awareness meeting provides an opportunity to review safety tips, hear crime updates, learn about upcoming UMBPD training and resources, and ask questions. Join us for our next meeting Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. Send questions to Lt. Matthew Johnson at matthew.johnson@police.umaryland.edu.

UMBPD Joins RadSecure 100 as a Leader in Radiation Response

UMBPD is one of the first police departments in the country to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration to enhance radiological security across the country. UMBPD received training Sept. 7-9 from the Office of Radiological Security to support this nationwide program. Learn more.

Former Security Officers Graduate Police Academy

Former UMB security officers Kevin Anderson and Ryan McGrath and former University of Maryland Medical Center security officer Joshua Forney graduated from the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions police academy this month. The academy takes six months and includes classroom and hands-on training. The new police officers started with UMBPD last week.

Public Safety Partners

Office of Emergency Management

POU Cleaning Carts

Point-of-Use (POU) Cleaning Carts are located in buildings across UMB. The carts include personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectant spray, dry wipes, and hand sanitizer. Use the carts to clean high-touch surfaces and common areas – it’s part of the Protect UMB COVID-19 Pledge!

PPE Available for UMB

Critical Resources and Logistics has free PPE available for UMB employees. There may be limited quantities of certain items. Supplies are typically available in two to three days from the order date.

Environmental Health and Safety

EHS Radiation Safety Program

The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Radiation Safety Program reminds UMB’s research community to maintain fundamental radiation safety practices in their labs if permitted to use radioactive material:

Keep radioactive material secure when not in use or whenever the researcher is not in direct line of view of the material.
Perform frequent radiation contamination surveys (at a minimum, at the end of each experiment, and possibly prior to the start of a new experiment).
Refrain from eating or drinking in lab workspaces. Any “hand-to-mouth” activity during lab work is highly discouraged.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact EHS Radiation Safety. Report any theft or suspicious activity to UMBPD at 410-706-6882.