August 2024

Aug. 15, 2024

Dear UMB Community:

Welcome (or welcome back) to another amazing year at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)! If you’re not familiar with UMB Police and Public Safety, let me take a moment to introduce ourselves.

We are a full-service law enforcement agency, made up of 80-plus sworn police officers, 90-plus civilian security officers, 25 civilian employees (including police communications operators, records personnel, and administrative staff), and three members of the Office of the Fire Marshal.

Your safety is our top priority, and we are proud to say that UMB remains one of the safest places in downtown Baltimore to live, work, learn, and visit. Our team is here 24/7 to help keep our UMB community safe. Take a moment to program our number into your phone: 410-706-6882.

Learn more about UMB Police and Public Safety, including our award-winning community outreach, resources, and much more!

Sincerely,

Thomas Leone, MSL

Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police

Safety Tip: Keep UMB Buildings Secure

Do your part to prevent unauthorized access to UMB buildings and keep our community safe:

• Never prop external doors open. All UMB buildings require a UMID to enter, whether at a secured door or at the One Card pedestal at the security desk. Visitors must check in with a security officer at the front desk. If you see an external door propped open, remove the prop and close the door.
• Ensure doors close properly. When you leave a UMB building, make sure the door closes and latches behind you. If the door is not working properly, please alert a security officer or call 410-706-6882 to report the issue.
• Prevent “piggybacking.” Piggybacking is when someone follows you into a secure UMB building without scanning their UMID or checking in with security. If someone tries to come in through a secure door behind you, remind them to scan their ID, or visit the security desk. If someone follows you into a secure UMB building or attempts to bypass the One Card pedestal without swiping in, alert a security officer; they are trained to address these situations.

Safety Awareness Meeting on Wednesday (Free Lunch!)

Join us Wednesday, Aug. 21, for our quarterly Safety Awareness Meeting! The meeting will be held in School of Social Work Room 2W11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided! Stop by to review safety tips, hear crime updates, learn about UMB Police and Public Safety resources, and ask questions. RSVP to Sgt. Kelli Blackwell at keblackwell@police.umaryland.edu.

Engage with UMB Police and Public Safety

Our team is coming to a new student orientation near you! Over the next month, we’ll be giving presentations and engaging at tables around campus. Stop by to say hello, ask questions, and grab some cool swag! Returning to UMB? We can’t wait to see you on Friday, Sept. 13, for the Campus Involvement Fair!

Save the Date: R.A.D. for Women Basic Self-Defense

Back by popular demand! Our free 10-hour hands-on self-defense course is designed to emphasize confidence and self-discipline while developing and enhancing self-defense options. Registration opens Aug. 19. Learn more about R.A.D.

UMB Public Safety by the Numbers: July

Each month, UMB Public Safety provides thousands of valuable services and resources to the communities we serve. In this segment, we highlight the previous month’s data to showcase the work of our employees.

• Average time from Safe Ride request to pickup: 9 minutes
• Safe Rides given: 1,866
• Building checks: 2,731
• Local business checks: 107
• Garage checks: 684
• Visitors logged: 11,374

Fire Safety Shines, Fires Decline

Is your office fire-safe? The UMB Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) keeps a close eye on all UMB fire protection features, but do you know what to look for in your individual space? Check out these tips from our partners at the U.S. Fire Administration for workplace fire safety. If you have a fire safety concern, please submit it to UMB OFM.

Code Corner: Sprinkler Obstructions

Do the sprinklers in your space have enough room to work? A clear space of at least 18 inches is needed between the top of storage and the ceiling for sprinklers to perform correctly. Storage within 18 inches impacts the sprinklers’ ability to spray water and control a fire.

Learn about additional common code violations from UMB OFM. If you have questions, please reach out to the office directly at firemarshal@umaryland.edu. 

Sign Up for September Training Opportunities

September is National Preparedness Month. OEM is celebrating by providing emergency preparedness training and Stop the Bleed training all month! Find a training near you and RSVP today!

National Best Practices Woven into UMB Emergency Preparedness and Campus Safety Improvements

UMB remains one of the safest places in downtown Baltimore. Now, a multidisciplinary team is tackling seven key safety reforms to take public safety and emergency preparedness to a new level. OEM used lessons learned from emergencies that occurred at schools across the United States to develop an action plan, which is well underway. Read the story.

Laboratory Incident Response

To reduce threats to health and safety, it is imperative that research personnel understand the basic procedures of emergency and spill response.

At a minimum, all lab members should be familiar with and appropriately trained in:

• Proper emergency response to release of hazardous materials as detailed in the Radiation Emergency Procedures, Biological Incident and Emergency Response, and Chemical Incident and Emergency Response
• Fire alarm locations, including when/how to activate
• Emergency exit locations and procedures
• Eyewash and emergency shower locations, including when/how to use
• Injury Reporting procedures