How UMB’s Safety Awareness Committee transformed from closed-door meetings to community-wide conversations.
This story is one in a series celebrating UMB Police and Public Safety’s 50-year history, the milestones that shaped us, and the work we continue today.
What if engaging with police didn’t feel intimidating – but inviting? That was the pitch when the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Safety Awareness Committee was established in October 1991. It worked.
In the wake of a surge of thefts on campus, 22 members of the UMB community came together to provide critical information to police. In turn, members of the committee would take updates from the police back to their departments and schools, thus establishing an open communication channel between UMB police and the communities they serve.
James Nestor chaired the safety awareness committee every two months from its inception until he rose to the rank of chief in 2000. During the committee’s first year, Nestor said their attention on crime reduced the number of overall thefts in buildings that participated in the Safety Awareness Program. Nestor passed away on July 7 at the age of 85.
Faculty and staff who served on the committee had desk plates that read “Safety Awareness Committee Representative.” Employees and students were encouraged to share their safety concerns with representatives, who would take the questions and concerns back to the committee.
Nestor described the group as “enthusiastic about curtailing campus theft.” In 1993, UMB President Errol Reese, DDS, PhD, presented a Group Employee Award to the Safety Awareness Committee for its efforts.
Asking for Feedback … and Listening
Twenty years later, community members and police still met regularly. What began as a group of named representatives started to open to the UMB community and beyond.
In a 2011 Q&A with then-chief Antonio Williams, he personally invited “people from all areas of the University” to join the committee. “Not only does that allow us to communicate our information out, but it’s a great way to get information as well,” he said.
Cpl. J.R. Jones, who served as the crime and safety awareness officer, took over leading the meetings. Each school and department had a representative on the committee, as well as representatives from communities surrounding UMB. The group discussed issues on and around campus that could impact public safety or travel.
“These meetings gave the students, faculty, and staff a feeling of someone listening to their needs and pointing them in the right direction,” Jones said. “It helped us to establish positive relationships with our community, who serve as our eyes and ears.”
Bringing New Voices to the Table
By 2018, engagement in the Safety Awareness Committee meetings had begun to wane. Sometimes, only two or three people showed up.
The newly established Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) got to work. Building on the foundation set by Williams and Jones, COAST welcomed everyone to the meetings. The committee — once a closed format composed of select individuals — now included more community members and a broader swath of University employees, including frontline staff.
In 2022, quarterly meetings — plus food — increased attendance and engagement. “Breaking bread with people helps develop those relationships,” said lieutenant Matthew Johnson, who serves as commander of COAST.
Each meeting featured a speaker and topic announced ahead of time, providing information beyond safety updates. A more inclusive and accessible meeting brought more diverse voices to the group. Not everyone who attends is a proponent of policing.
“The people who need to hear what we are doing the most can sometimes be the most critical — and the most critical can become champions once they understand and feel like they have a voice,” Johnson said. “Each meeting gives people not just information, but also a platform to speak. It’s about access and making the police department feel more approachable.”
For those looking to engage with UMB Police and Public Safety on a deeper level, COAST offers a multi-day community engagement academy, which covers additional topics like police officer selection, department structure, decision-making, and use of force.
Join the Conversation
Next week, community members and cops will share a meal and discuss the latest safety information at UMB. While the format looks a little different 34 years after the Safety Awareness Committee first began, the intended outcome is the same: share information and increase safety at UMB.
Join UMB Police and Public Safety on July 30 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 100 N. Greene St. (entrance on W. Fayette St.). Lunch is provided.
Attendees will learn about the department’s Use of Force Policy and try a hands-on police training simulator. RSVP to Sgt. Kelli Blackwell at keblackwell@police.umaryland.edu.