UTM Campus Police Services on new dispatch system, expanded safety programs
Whenever you need help from U of T Mississauga’s Campus Police Services, all you have to do is call.
As of Nov. 21, UTM’s Campus Police now receive calls through a central dispatch system that routes all calls through an office located on the St. George campus. The dispatch office is staffed around the clock, ensuring that every incoming call is answered immediately and assigned to a responding officer at UTM.
Previously, calls were routed to the UTM police office or, during evening and weekends, to special constable cell phones. “This system was problematic because we don’t have universal cell coverage everywhere on campus,” says UTM Campus Police manager Robert Messacar, who notes that the Scarborough and St. George campuses have used the system for several years. “Having the calls routed through a central dispatch system ensures the call is always answered and that the call is assigned to an available officer. Regular callers may be surprised to hear an unfamiliar voice on the other end of the phone, but if an officer is unavailable, the dispatcher can summon other emergency services. Through this new system, we will always have some type of response, guaranteed.”
The new dispatch system is part of an ongoing program of enhancements to UTM’s Campus Police team that began in 2015. This includes several new hires, including Staff Sergeant Mary Shaw and assistant manager of physical security Steven Riviera. “If it plugs into a wall, Steve oversees it,” Messacar says. “He has been leading the integration of campus security systems, bringing them together under a new central monitoring station to streamline our security monitoring.”
The campus security team has also expanded with the addition of more special constables, bringing the number to 14. Six building patrollers have also been added to the team, ensuring full security coverage of campus buildings and freeing up special constables to attend calls related to enforcement, medical emergencies and other issues.
In recent months, Messacar has also overseen two personal safety programs offered by his unit. Through the new Work Alone program, students, staff and visitors to the campus may sign out a personal safety radio, or register for regular check-ins from officers. “Having a radio close at hand helps people feel more secure, and ensures they can reach us whenever they need to,” Messacar says. “Carrying a radio can be a key part of safety planning for individuals who may have a personal or familial safety concern. Additionally, we recommend this service to anybody who is working alone in a lab or elsewhere on campus where there is a risk of accident or personal injury.”
The new radio loan program complements the recently expanded WalkSafer program, which now operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The program connects all callers with a personal safety escort anywhere on campus. “We will take you to and from anywhere on campus, whenever you need to go. We will even wait for the bus with you,” he says.
To borrow a radio, please visit the Campus Police office, Room DV 3116 or call 905-828-5200.
To request a WalkSafer escort, please call 905-607-SAFE (7233).