Frostburg State University’s Police Department has won the Maryland State Governor’s Crime Prevention Award for the 16th time since 1990. FSU Police won the award under category A, which includes efforts on all fronts of crime prevention. The purpose of the award, stated by the application, is “to recognize those departments who have incorporated an overall outstanding crime prevention program as an integral part of their daily lives.”
"One of the reasons that we are referred to as the safest campus in Maryland is that our police officers work continuously with the students, faculty and staff of the university to prevent crime from happening in the first place, instead of only responding to crimes that have already occurred,” states Brian Shanley, FSU’s Chief of Police. “The trust and partnerships that are developed through our crime prevention activities pay dividends all year long, and make Frostburg State University a very safe place to work, study, learn and live."
In order to win the award, FSU Police implemented personal, residential and commercial security programs, as well as provided crime prevention training and public information/media activities, and officer recognition for crime prevention. The FSU Police have also supported the National Crime Prevention “McGruff” campaign by displaying the character on posters throughout campus and in the residence halls.
The many different personal security programs from the FSU Police Department include presentations regarding safety on campus. Other presentations included informing the public about rape and sexual assault, elderly crime prevention, youth crime prevention and drug abuse prevention.
FSU Police also worked to increase residential security programs by having nine students work with the department as “Night Assistants.” The students are equipped with radios and become the eyes and ears of the police. They tend with common situations such as theft.
The FSU police department also offered training and planning presentations for university employees and used e-mail as a means to inform the campus community about crime prevention.
