Keeping MRU safe
by Shiva Kashi
Photo by Josh Naud. Officer Tory Manywounds is ready for action no matter what crime might be thrown his way.
As some students amble into the school around 8:10 a.m. for an 8 o’clock class, whining about just how early they have to arrive, the 12-hour day shift of the security personnel started over two hours ago. With around 28 staff employed at Mount Royal security, there is always someone on campus to help.
“The officers are scheduled by their supervisors to perform various patrol tasks,” William Spring, the manager of security at MRU explains. “Officers normally patrol; one officer by day and two by night.”
Most students are aware that security’s primary duty is to protect people on campus.
“I think that security walks around campus and ensures that there is nothing suspicious going on and that everybody is safe, and if they find anything wrong or suspicious then they take the corrective actions to fix it,” explains first-year business student Lisa Vienneau. She says that she that other than that, she is unsure of the other services that security offers.
According to Spring, security is assigned to do dispatch duties, which see them dealing with any emergency calls or alarms, and patrolling the campus in a variety of forms, such as foot, bike, and car, keeping their eyes peeled for potential thefts or other suspicious behaviours.
Traffic control is another duty assigned to security, which works with the Calgary Parking Authority to guide parking or deal with any traffic collisions that may occur within the road confines of Mount Royal. And of course, as most of us are aware, they also take care of the lost items on campus.
Having to patrol these hallowed halls regularly makes security personnel some of the best people to ask questions regarding directions and the locations of any other departments.
“Here you never know where your day is going to take you,” Spring explains about the unpredictability of their seemingly routine days. “[Incidents may range] from calls for medical assistance to responding
to a call for a crime in progress. Security works with all external agencies: fire, police, and EMS as required.”
The security officers are also highly trained in first aid. Spring mentions that, “security officers are in-house security MRU employees. The prerequisites for employment are a justice studies diploma, degree, or related experience in law enforcement or a security industry-related field.”
The figures found on the MRU security website are proof that all their efforts have been effective. “Based on stats over the last five years, MRU is generally a safe place to work and study,” Spring adds.
Students and staff have helped in this accomplishment and can still aid security in maintaining safety. Spring encourages everyone to report any suspicious person or activity immediately to Security Services, which is accessible 24/7 by phone or in person. Campus security also provides a 24/7 Safewalk service in cooperation with the SAMRU. Student volunteers and campus security will escort those individuals who do not wish to walk to remote Mount Royal locations unaccompanied.
When she was new to the city, Vienneau had taken advantage of the Safewalk program. “I felt like an idiot asking [security] to walk me home, but it made me feel safe,” she explains. “He was really nice about it though.” For Safewalk, stop by campus security at the West Gate or use any of the phones around campus to call for a walk.
