Crime Prevention

Mission

The mission of the Campus Police Department is to enhance the quality of life on campus by working cooperatively with the public and within the frameworks of the constitution, to enforce laws, preserve peace, reduce fear, and provide for a safe environment. We have the direct responsibility to ensure a peaceful learning environment and for the effective delivery of a wide variety of police services.

Training

The Becker College Campus Police Department is dedicated to providing our community with the best possible quality of officer. We at Becker College recognize that one of the most important ways to accomplish this task is through dedicated, consistent, and continual training. The Becker College Campus Police Department determines its training needs based on legal mandates, court decisions, federal and state standards, current law enforcement trends, directives from the Campus Police Chief, and most of all the observed and implied needs of the college community.

All Becker College Police Officers are fully sworn Special State Police Officers in accordance with Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 22c, section 63. As such the officers have the same authority as all other police officers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, when they are operating on property owned or controlled by Becker College. The Becker College Campus Police Department is committed to working with all members of the campus community to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, promote individual responsibility, and fulfill community commitments.

Services

Safety Escorts - This program provides students with both motorized and walking escorts for those individuals who wish to utilize them. This service is provided in an attempt to prevent individuals from walking alone on campus during the hours of darkness. However, there is no time constraint or condition required in order to utilize this service. We encourage the Becker College community to freely travel about the campus, but also recommend utilizing the Campus Escort Service when unable to travel in groups during evening or early morning hours.

Living Safely on Campus Presentations- This program focuses on common safety practices to assist both Campus Police and resident students on each campus in providing the safest learning environment possible. These informational sessions take place on each campus for all students every semester. They have been proven to be a helpful source to introduce Campus Police personnel to new students while providing a forum for students to inquire about questions of college safety issues.

Lockout Assistance - Becker College Campus Police personnel assist students, faculty, and staff with a variety of entry issues, from Motor Vehicle lockouts, to opening residence hall doors. By providing this service, the college limits damage associated with forced entry, while decreasing intentional "breaking and entering".

Emergency Phones - In the interest of the continued safety and security of the entire college community, emergency phones are provided to the students, staff, and faculty throughout each of the college's campuses. Each of the phones are located at the front entrance of the building, immediately to the side of the door. These phones are provided in order to facilitate the prompt and accurate notification of the Becker College Campus Police in times of emergency as well as during normal requests for service. These phones assist in contacting the Becker College Campus Police Department twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Monthly Fire and Safety Inspections - Becker College Campus Police personnel conduct monthly fire and safety inspections of each building on campus, to ensure a thoroughly prepared and equipped facility. These inspections are in addition to the annual safety inspection conducted by the State Fire Marshal's office. Some items checked on a monthly basis include, Fire Extinguisher charge and functionality, Emergency back-up lighting, smoke detector, and heat detector functionality, as well as monthly fire drills of campus buildings.

Special Event staffing - Becker College Police Officers provide additional staffing for a multitude of special events held on campus. Police staffing at these events provides a variety of safety services from individual dedicated officers. By assigning specific officers to assist with these functions those officers provide a consistent and dedicated effort focused solely on the needs of the specified function. This aids in ensuring that attendees are able to safely enjoy multiple campus events and activities, while not detracting from the necessary functions performed by shift officers.

Twenty Four hour patrolling - Becker College Campus Police conducts twenty four hour patrolling of both campuses throughout the school year. This function provides for a proactive approach to deterring future crime on campus. In addition the presence of certified First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation First Responders greatly aids students, staff, and faculty in the event of a medical emergency. A combination of mobile patrols combined with walking "foot patrols" provides the opportunity to interact with a varied representation of the Becker College community.

Residence Life Liaison - The recognition of the complexity of campus policing issues is one of the most important factors in promoting positive interaction between the Campus Police Department and the community it serves. Officer Joseph Bonczek, a former student member of the Residence Life Faculty, now serves as the department liaison to all students, resident directors, and resident assistants, through this innovative program which provides students and their Residence Life Faculty the opportunity to offer feedback, inquire about issues, and request assistance in direct and uninterrupted biweekly meetings.

Auto Etching Program - The Becker College Campus Police in conjunction with the Governor's Auto Theft Strike Force, annually conduct a crime prevention initiative known as an "Auto Glass Etching Day". This program chemically marks automobile windows with the vehicle's own unique vehicle identification number (VIN). This process creates a deterrent effect against theft while offering the participants the opportunity to save up to 15% off the cost of their comprehensive auto insurance. The program is offered on both campuses in order to provide the entire college community with the opportunity to participate.

Investigations - The Becker College Police Department recognizes the complexities that can occur, which may necessitate further in-depth investigations. While not all investigations conducted will be strictly criminal in nature, the presence of a dedicated, specified, department familiar with surroundings, functions, and personnel can often assist in developing leads which may initiate return or repayment of individual items, deterrence of future crime, or in one such recent event the identity of an individual responsible for costing the college thousands of dollars.

Neighborhood Community Liaison - In addition to focusing on the needs of the Becker College Community, the Becker Campus Police recognize that almost everything that occurs at the college will in some way effect or be effected by the surrounding community. It is for this reason that the department has established a Neighborhood Community Liaison. This individual is responsible to meet monthly with area residents' and business owners' safety groups in the attempt to inform, address, and assist those members of the surrounding community in all issues relating to the college and its safety and security concerns.

Media and News Relations Unit - The Becker College Police Department recognizes the integral part that the media plays in informing and entertaining the entire community. It is for this reason that the Media and News Relations Unit was formed. This unit interacts closely with media agencies both within and outside the Becker College Community to accurately and completely inform the college and surrounding communities of events and concerns throughout the area. The unit is staffed through patrol, supervisory, and administrative officers in the attempt to provide a wide array of input and information to best convey the interests of the College Community.