SHERIFF PLEDGES NEW SUBSTATIONS FOR BCC

By  //  February 4, 2013

Outlines Emergency Response Efforts

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Community College, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Brevard County’s public safety community has partnered to strengthen both security and safety as BCC transitions into a state college.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has pledged to support security of students at Brevard Community College through new campus substations. (Image courtesy of Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

BCC will have a new name – Eastern Florida State College – to reflect its heightened status starting July 1.

BCC President Dr. Jim Richey and Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced today several steps in coordination with our local police and fire departments to ensure the College is safer for its 35,000 students, faculty and staff.

The steps follow a review of all BCC operations that Richey initiated when he became president last year and as the College actively prepares to offer four-year degree programs. The partnership enhances current security measures while providing public safety with a working understanding for emergency response efforts if a critical incident were to occur.

Sheriff Ivey was joined by Cocoa Police Chief Mark Klayman, Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs, Palm Bay Police Chief Doug Muldoon, Titusville Police Chief John Lau and Richey as the partnership was presented to the BCC Board of Trustees.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, faculty, staff and any member of the public who visits our campuses. The new measures strengthen the security practices we have in place and better prepare the College and law enforcement to respond rapidly in an emergency,” Richey said. “We’re working closely with our Sheriff’s Office and Police Departments to create a comprehensive approach to safety. The College’s 48 active Security Officers will continue to provide around-the-clock protection for our four campuses, playing a key role in safeguarding the College while expanding their already excellent working relationship with law enforcement.”

Dr. Jim Richey is president of Brevard Community College, which will soon officially become Eastern Florida State University. (image courtesy of Brevard Community College)

The Sheriff’s Office will coordinate efforts with Brevard County Fire Rescue, and the Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay Police and Fire Departments to:

• Conduct comprehensive security reviews of each campus and familiarize themselves with campus layouts.

• Integrate the College’s emergency response plan with the Sheriff’s Office and municipal police and fire departments.

• Lead coordinated crisis-response training program with college officials.

• Create substations on each campus for deputies and police officers to increase campus presence and help provide a safe educational environment.

• Offer crime awareness courses for new BCC students as well as current students, faculty and staff.

• Develop awareness programs at each campus for our citizens, which will provide valuable crime prevention information.

“This renewed focus and partnership will reinforce security measures that are based on an existing foundation forged by our outstanding relationship with BCC and the entire public safety community. This program is very consistent with the partnership recently initiated with the Brevard County School Board,” Ivey said. “These efforts are designed not only to ensure that our educational environment is safe, but, more importantly, this partnership will result in better preparing our citizens to protect themselves. A well informed community is a safer community.”