July 2024

July 15, 2024

Dear UMB Community:

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Department of Police and Public Safety’s mission and vision speak to our commitment to safety, education, and community engagement. We work with our community throughout the year to build positive relationships and provide resources to vulnerable populations.

National Night Out is our annual event where we get together with our community, neighbors, and friends — whether we’ve known you for years or are just meeting! We hope you’ll join us on Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the University of Maryland BioPark for free food, fellowship, and fun!

Sincerely,

Thomas Leone, MSL

Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police

Safety Tip: Request a Safe Walk

Take advantage of the warmer weather by requesting a Safe Walk! This service is provided on campus 24/7 by members of our UMB Police and Public Safety team. Call 410-706-6882 and we’ll be there in a jiffy. Learn more about Safe Walk.

Safety Tip: Building Security

Do your part to help keep our UMB buildings safe! Always swipe your UMID when entering a UMB building and/or at the One Card reader near the security desk. If you forget, our security officers will remind you to swipe — it’s their job! Please remember our core values and practice kindness toward one another. 

If someone tries to enter a secure UMB building behind you, alert our security officer. They’re trained to manage these situations. 

Remember: If you see something, say something. Talk to a police or security officer if you notice suspicious activity or call 410-706-6882. Don’t delay — reporting this activity helps us to keep our community safe.

See You at National Night Out on Aug. 6!

National Night Out, our annual community-building event, will be held Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the corner of West Baltimore and Poppleton streets. The event will feature tons of resources, giveaways, emergency preparedness training, and much more. We hope to see you there! 

RSVP for Our Safety Awareness Meeting (NEW DATE!)

Our next quarterly Safety Awareness Meeting will be held Aug. 21 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. Location information to follow. RSVP to Sgt. Kelli Blackwell at keblackwell@police.umaryland.edu.

Improving Safety at UMB

UMB Police and Public Safety and the UMB Office of Emergency Management are working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to examine building access, lighting, cameras, building emergency procedures, and even cybersecurity! This in-depth assessment identifies ways that we can better protect our students, employees, and community. 

Maintaining Excellence in Public Safety Through Accreditation

From July 8-11, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) conducted an on-site assessment of UMB Police and Public Safety. This voluntary process involves a review of the department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Community members and agency personnel are invited to submit comments about UMB Police and Public Safety to CALEA’s public comment portal.

CALEA accreditation shows that UMB has maintained the highest standard of professional excellence in public safety. The department has received continuous CALEA accreditation since 1996.  

UMB Public Safety by the Numbers: June

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: 10 minutes, 8 seconds
• Safe Rides given: 1,755
• Building checks: 2,788
• Local business checks: 127
• Garage checks: 688
• Visitors logged: 10,912

Fire Safety at Your Home Away from Home

Peer-to-peer hospitality services such as Airbnb, Vrbo, and other types of vacation rentals are not regulated in the same way as hotels. Requirements vary widely across jurisdictions. Act as your own safety advocate and know before you go. Be sure the following safety measures are addressed.

Learn more about the UMB Office of the Fire Marshal at umaryland.edu/fire-marshal.

UMB Taking Action to Improve Campus Safety

A multidisciplinary team from across UMB is tackling seven key safety reforms. 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.

FREE Emergency Preparedness Training Available Online

Learn what to do during an emergency, where to find lifesaving equipment, and much more! You can start the training online now or request in-person training by contacting emergencymanagement@umaryland.edu. 

Emergency Preparedness Training is one part of the Preparedness Pro digital credential. Learn more about our series of preparedness trainings at UMB, including Active Assailant, Stop the Bleed, CPR/AED, and Fire Extinguisher training.

Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) Researchers’ Manual

Researchers, registrants, and other authorized users of CDS must comply with federal and state standards. In addition to proper registration and safe use practices, effective security is important to deter diversion and reduce access for unauthorized users. Research use of CDS must occur under a specific research registration, unlike the more common practitioner registration.

The regulations guiding research use of CDS can be difficult to understand. Luckily, the Drug Enforcement Administration published an updated Researcher’s Manual that outlines steps labs can take to ensure compliance! Learn more about UMB’s Policy on Research Use of Controlled Substances and review common inspection findings at EHS’ Controlled Substances webpage.