Keeping MATC safe and secure
4 officers, 12 students help patrol the college
Ben Wurl-Koth, Clarion News Editor
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News
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MATC Madison's security has a staff of four full-time employees and twelve student officers. The four full-time employees have much experience in serving the community, one of them a part time police officer, one being a previous Dane County sheriff, one being a retired police officer of 15years, and the Chief of Security has 20 years of experience. The student officers are not restricted to students being enrolled in the criminal justice program however, as it turns out, they all are.
The student officers are trained to deal with many different types of situations that may occur on campus. Prior to putting on the uniform, student officers are trained in first aid, CPR, armed and unarmed tactics, report writing, and professional communication skills, including mediation techniques to prevent the escalation of an issue. Since the student officers have gone through the mandated training, "they are treaded like a professional and are expected to follow those expectations," says James Bottoni, Chief of Security.
The small staff, of students and full-time employees, is kept this way to make students more comfortable with security officers. Since they are here to serve and protect the students the department wants people on campus to feel comfortable talking with the members of the security team. The student officers are responsible for parking enforcement, facility checks, and are responsible to respond to any calls for service, emergency or not. Any time a weapon is involved they must call the Madison Police Department.
The MATC security department has a very good relationship with Madison Police, according to Bottoni. They have a connection with them through parking, as well as any criminal actions taking place on campus. According to the Chief of Security they have about a 5-minute response time to campus. MATC has not had a Police officer on campus for a year. After the Virginia Tech shooting there was a push to have a Police officer on every campus, so there would be someone who can carry a gun. Bottoni points out that armed presence doesn't stop these things from happening, and with a response time under five minutes we could have Police on campus with very little notice.
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