BC3 plays it safe with amped security efforts
BUTLER TWP— A month after the April 2007 student shootings at Virginia Tech University, Butler County Community College formed a committee to examine campus safety.
This semester, the fruits of the Emergency Response Committee are visible.
Three emergency boxes were active on campus for the first day of classes Tuesday.
The boxes put people who are in trouble in touch immediately with law enforcement.
At the same time, faculty member Pat Massaro takes on the new position of director of campus police and security. He's now in charge of a part-time office and three full-time officers who are armed for the first time.
"Virginia Tech had everyone say, 'What would we do? How would we respond?'" said college spokeswoman Susan Changnon. "Now we have a good plan in place with so many components."
Massaro plans to increase professionalism and proactive initiatives at BC3 in his new role. He also would like to add a second part-time officer.
Massaro spent 26 years in law enforcement. He joined BC3 as a part-time instructor in 1989.He's now a full-time assistant professor in the humanities department. He said he plans to continue teaching.
Among the added security features to campus, the college's police officers are armed this semester as directed by the college's board of trustees. While the college's weapons are still on order, the officers are carrying the weapons from their other jobs, Massaro said."There was a real deficiency in campus safety direction," Massaro said.He said everyone was doing a good job with the resources available, but he hopes to increase the visibility of the police.The emergency phones also are now active. The blue emergency phones connect directly with campus police. After four rings, the phone rings to a police cell phone, and then to Butler County 911. Once the phone is activated, a blue light will flash at the box to direct police to the person in trouble.Massaro said this technology can cut response time in an emergency.With mock drills, an intercom system, and a written emergency plan, the college hopes to continue to improve safety."We're not taking anything for granted,"Massaro said. "It can happen anywhere."The college has 3,442 full and part-time students.
