The monthly newsletter includes a message from Chief of Police Thomas Leone plus safety tips, service statistics, public safety partner updates, and more.
To see previous editions of The Public Safety Newsletter, go to the Police and Public Safety website.
Letter from the Chief
The beginning of the semester is my favorite time of year. The campus comes alive with new and returning students bustling around campus.
This is my 10th time seeing the fall semester get underway, but for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Department of Police and Public Safety, this is our 50th time! We’re celebrating with historical articles, social media posts, and more. Around Halloween, we even plan to host tours of historic Pine Street Station (it is haunted, after all).
I hope you will take a few minutes to read this newsletter (or watch the 2-minute video version) to learn about resources, events, and our department’s history. Welcome (or welcome back) to UMB!
Sincerely,
Thomas Leone, MSL
Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police
Public Safety Tips and Resources
GET FAMILIAR WITH UMB
Whether you’re new to UMB or returning for another year, make sure you’re familiar with our buildings and resources!
- UMB’s interactive Campus Map gives an overview of our buildings. Click on the downloadable map to see locations of our Blue Light Phones.
- UMB’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has Occupant Emergency Plans for every building on campus! Take time to review life-saving resources in the building where you work, learn, or visit.
- Take part in Walking Wednesdays with the Office of Sustainability. Get some exercise while familiarizing yourself with campus. The Walking Wednesday on Aug. 27 will feature a special visitor: our comfort K9, Poe!
TEMPORARY NEW LOOK FOR SAFE RIDE VANS
While our usual Safe Ride vans are undergoing repairs, our uniformed security officers will be behind the wheel of temporary marked minivans. You can still request a ride on the Mobile UMB app or by calling 410-706-6882. Before getting in, look for the "Safe Ride" magnet on the door and a UMB security officer behind the wheel!
Serving Our Community
THEN AND NOW: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND COMMUNITY POLICING
This year’s UMB National Night Out was a huge success, with more than 400 people stopping by. The event has changed on our campus over time, especially with the creation of the Community Outreach and Support Team in 2018. Read the story.
REGISTER NOW FOR ADVANCED R.A.D.
Back by popular demand! R.A.D. Advanced for Women begins Tuesday, Sept. 2. The class is for UMB faculty, staff, and students who have already completed Basic R.A.D. self-defense. Space is limited. Learn more and sign up for this free class today!
THEN AND NOW: BREAKING BREAD, BUILDING TRUST
Our first Safety Awareness Meeting was held in 1991. Last month, we continued the tradition of welcoming members of our community to learn about UMB Police and Public Safety. Read the story.
THEN AND NOW: A CRASH, AN EXPLOSION, AND A DARING RESCUE
Fire lit the sky along Baltimore and Greene streets in the early morning hours of June 9, 1983. A Baltimore Police Department (BPD) van lay on its side, and UMB police came running to help. Read about the heroic rescue, including reflections from a current BPD lieutenant colonel who remembers hearing about the crash during his first months on the job.
SAVE THE DATE: COFFEE WITH A COP
National Coffee with a Cop Day is Wednesday, Oct. 1! Join UMB Police and Public Safety in the Pharmacy Hall Atrium from 8:30 to 10 a.m. for FREE coffee and pastries (while supplies last). The event is open to all UMB students and employees.
UMB PUBLIC SAFETY BY THE NUMBERS: JULY
Each month, UMB Police and Public Safety provides thousands of valuable services and resources to the communities we serve. In this segment, we highlight the previous month’s data to showcase the work of our employees.
- Average time from Safe Ride request to pickup: 7 minutes, 36 seconds
- Safe Rides given: 1,886
- Building checks: 2,856
- Local business checks: 76
- Garage checks: 716
UMB Office of the Fire Marshal
ESCAPE PLANNING
Take advantage of the warm weather to make and practice your escape plan at home and at work. Everywhere you go, it is important to note two different ways out, especially for places where you spend the most time, like your home and office.
Set up a designated meeting point with all the occupants in your home, such as a mailbox or tree. All UMB buildings have Occupant Emergency Plans that indicate an assigned assembly point for emergencies.
The Office of the Fire Marshal conducts fire drills twice a year to give you a chance to practice. At home, follow these seven steps to practice your escape plan.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING
Learn how to save lives — and have fun doing it! Our next fire extinguisher training is Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to noon. Learn about the science of fire, different types of fires and extinguishers, and how to properly use an extinguisher. Then, try your hand at our fire extinguisher simulator! Register now at umbsafe.org/firetraining.
The Office of the Fire Marshal is an important part of UMB Public Safety. Contact UMB’s fire marshal directly at firemarshal@umaryland.edu.
Public Safety Partner: Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
EVENT SAFETY AT UMB
Planning a large event at UMB? Before your reserve your space, consider your event’s safety plan! An event safety plan can identify potential hazards and safety protocols, minimizing risk to your event. Check out OEM’s Event Planning Safety Considerations, plus Occupant Emergency Plans for buildings, outdoor spaces, and large indoor spaces across UMB.
UMB EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER
OEM’s monthly newsletter includes tips, news stories, resources, and more. Sign up today!
PREPAREDNESS PRO TRAINING
OEM offers free emergency preparedness training year-round without the wait! Plus, complete four additional trainings to earn a Preparedness Pro microcredential. Trainings include:
- Emergency Preparedness
- Active Assailant Preparedness
- CPR/AED or Naloxone
- Stop the Bleed
- Fire Extinguisher
Learn more and sign up for training today!
Public Safety Partner: Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
COLD AND WARM ROOM SAFETY
These spaces are designed to maintain non-ambient temperature and are used for storage of material and for certain processes to occur. Hazards in these environmentally controlled spaces include exposure to temperatures outside of normal range, poor ventilation, entrapment, and trip and slip hazards. Their often-humid atmosphere can lead to excess growth of mold, and they are often shared spaces, leading to diffusion of responsibility.
EHS has developed a tiered ranking system for the severity of mold growth found in cold or warm rooms and will be rolling out cold and warm room inspections within the next year. Find more information on the EHS website.
Social Media and More Information
Follow UMB Police and Public Safety on these social media sites: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. You also can visit umaryland.edu/police to learn more about our department, services, officers, history, and much more.
Video Recap
See a video recap of this month’s newsletter in two minutes or less.