Cameras installed around Meramec in an effort to further protect students
Clarification: The Meramec campus police department employs armed, certified police officers versus campus security personnel. STLCC-Meramec, a state-funded institution, has an established police department.
Alex Kendall
-Staff Photographer-
Campus Police increased surveillance on the STLCC-Meramec campus this semester with the addition of six video cameras.
These cameras have been installed in an effort to protect the students and faculty against any crimes that may be committed against them and their property.
“We’re not trying to invade anyone’s privacy,” Campus Police Chief Paul Banta said. “We’re doing this in an open public setting. It’s for the students’ protection.”
Each camera can be individually controlled by the operator with zoom capabilities to track a license plate from across the parking lot. The cameras allow the dispatchers to watch over the parking lots and inform the patrol officers of any suspicious or incriminating activities.
Campus police has already assisted in the identification of hit and run drivers in the parking lot by reviewing the video and capturing the license plates, according to Banta.
“Realistically, our campus is a pretty safe place,” Banta said. “We’ve got an honest community here.”
In the wake of the shooting that occurred at Virginia Tech in 2007, Banta said these cameras are one of the steps toward making the campus a safer place.
“We’re trying to avoid the situation at Virginia Tech,” Banta said.
Another program that Meramec put into action is the Behavioral Intervention Team. Consisting of Banta, Jason Duchinsky, Linden Crawford, Linda Nissenbaum, and Michael Beach, the BIT handles any concerns regarding the welfare of the students or anyone in the campus community.
Banta said the BIT deals with “anybody that feels there is anybody in the campus community that might be harmful to themselves or others.”
According to Banta, when a person is identified as a threat to the college, the officers will take action to detain them as well as notify the Kirkwood police; if the threat is a danger to human life, campus police will take direct action.
Routine patrols, advanced notification systems, pop-up security computer messages and the call boxes are some of the measures the campus already uses on a daily basis.
Along with technical measures, Banta said he and the campus police force also need the support of the student body.
“The students are our eyes and ears too,” Banta said. “Everybody’s got ideas, and I’m happy to listen to them.”
Students like Anthony Gooch are beginning to notice the increased security measures.
“Not that I didn’t feel secure before,“ Gooch said. “Just that now I have a better sense of security.”
As part of his “ten-year plan” Banta said some future security plans include, interior cameras, dead bolt locks on classroom doors, phones in each classroom and an exterior PA system.
“It’s a nice place, I feel safe here,” student Jason Lay said. “The cameras are a nice addition to school safety.”
If you or someone you know has anything to report to the BIT Team, fill out an incident report at https://www.stlcc.edu/forms/incidentreport.html.
