Technology one tool in keeping campus safe, DPS chief says

DPS Chief Melvin Williams speaks to Panther reporters. (Panther photo)

Claflin Department of Public Safety Chief Melvin Williams has been working constantly to improve campus safety, looking to expand in both police numbers and technology. 

"Our main goal is to keep the campus safe, that is what we're focused on every day," Williams said during a news conference with Panther reporters Sept. 21. "Everything we do should have the end goal of creating additional safety." 

To achieve the goal, the department has taken a look at what it can do for the Claflin community. Williams described the "continuous" training for staff.  

"That training covers everything from report writing to responding to active threats," Williams said. The training ensures that officers are "better equipped to keep the campus safe." 

The programs take place on a bi-weekly schedule through an online training platform called Target Solutions. The training consists of reading assignments, instructional videos and a quiz. 

Williams said the department operates best when it changes with the times, and this means taking advantage of technology.

“One of the things I firmly believe in is using technology to its fullest,” Williams said. 

The department began mandatory use of body cameras at the beginning of the calendar year and is working on adding to the current campus camera system.

“We have a very robust camera system,” he said. 

Claflin's public safety department currently consists of 14 people. This includes police and security officers, both having arrest authority.  

The university has been contracting with two additional private security guards three days out of the week to make up for what Williams sees as a shortage.

"What we're looking to do is increase our staffing," Williams said. He would like to see "a supervisor, a minimum of two officers, and a dispatcher on every shift."

Other steps have been taken to enhance campus security:

• License plate readers have been installed on campus.
• Claflin DPS has begun use of a police car -- “first police car in the history of university.”
• A substation with local law enforcement and South Carolina State University is opening near campus at Goff and Buckley streets in “a central location where we can jointly work together.”

Claflin is a safe campus, Williams said. Campus safety is not only the job of the department, but it also depends on the community.  

“You can put police officers in every community but unless the members of the community team up with them, support them and work with them, those officers will not be as efficient as they could be,” Williams said, “It has to do with all of us.” 

Williams said building healthy community relationships is vital and is something that works best with a two-way effort.   

"That means really embracing community policing, building relationships, getting out and talking to the community before we need something,” Williams said.