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Joe Kirk is the director of security at The College of Wooster. He is
a member of the Ohio Crime Prevention Association, the International
Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the Association
of College and University Housing Officers International, and the
Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers
(Diversity and Housing Operations committee member).
Kirk earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the National Training Laboratories Human Interaction Lab. A certified TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) trainer, Kirk is also a certified campus crime prevention professional, a member of the STEPs (Substance Abuse, Treatment, Education, and Prevention Services) Board of Directors, the American Society of Industrial Security, and the International Foundation for Protection Officers. |
Making The College of Wooster an open and friendly campus while keeping it safe and secure is the responsibility of the Office of Security. Joe Kirk, director of security, describes how his department works to achieve both of these objectives. How does Wooster compare in safety with other colleges and universities? Overall, I think this is a very safe campus. In terms of schools that are similar to us, I think that we are probably average in terms of the number of incidents, but I do think we are ahead in some areas, especially in terms of fire safety. Many schools have a tremendous problem with false alarms, but we have addressed that issue and are doing much better. We have also made strides in other areas, including our efforts to improve our relationship with the community. What steps has your department taken to improve the relationship between campus and community? We try to bring the two sides together and encourage dialogue between students and community members on a regular basis. Too often the two groups see themselves as separate communities, but they are really one. It is important for students to demonstrate respect for individuals and property when they leave campus to travel downtown or through residential areas. It is also important for citizens of Wooster to realize that most students are interested in having a positive relationship with members of the community. What has The College of Wooster done to make its campus safer? A number of measures have been taken in recent years to make Wooster's campus safe, including increased lighting and the installation of emergency phones in all parking lots as well as many other locations. In addition, we have safety escorts available, not just for students, but for anyone who requests the service. We also have phones at the main entrance of all residence halls, and we have increased our physical presence with more officers patrolling the grounds. What can individuals do to reduce their chances of becoming a crime victim on campus? There are a number of simple, common-sense precautions that a person can take to avoid becoming a victim of crime. For example, stay in well-lit areas at night and find someone to walk with or use Security's escort service. Also, do not prop open doors, especially fire doors; lock the door to your room at all times; and report anyone behaving suspiciously. The bottom line is to be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. By following these guidelines, you reduce your chances of becoming a victim of crime. How does your department respond when an incident occurs on campus? Our first response is to assist the victim or victims and then launch an investigation into the incident, much like any other law enforcement agency would do. After that, we attempt to make everyone aware of the incident by posting notices in residence halls and houses as well as other high traffic areas through our "Campus Alert" system. Then we try to re-educate students about the steps they can take to avoid becoming the victim of a similar incident. How does the College work with the local law enforcement? We have a very good working relationship with the City of Wooster's Police Department. We call on them when incidents occur and make them aware of tips we receive. Chief Thornton and I share information about incidents in the city and on campus. They let us know about anything they believe to be a potentially volatile event in the community, and we do the same with events on campus. We are both on several committees within the community, including the sexual assault coalition and the Wooster City Crime in the Community Committee, so we remain in close contact. What does the College do to make its campus open to the community while guarding against trespassers who may pose a threat? The College of Wooster welcomes visitors to campus, and the majority come with positive intentions. We want their visit to be enjoyable and satisfying. At the same time, we do have people who wander onto campus and pose a potential threat. In these cases, we encourage our students to use assertive body language to communicate that they are aware and in control. We also encourage students to notify us when they spot something or someone suspicious. |
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| Last updated: January 10, 2006 · For more information, contact John Finn | ||
