Campus police host training seminar
Christy Mullins
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The campus community may feel safer beginning next month after an intensive training program hosted by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Inc. (IACLEA) and the Winthrop Campus Police Department.
The Incident Command System [ICS] course is a free, three-day training program funded by a grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security that will be held at Winthrop. The national program, created because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, sets a standard procedure for all emergencies, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks and school shootings.
The training covers prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in response to emergencies, with exercises in a tabletop "model campus" simulator as well as case studies and hands-on experience.
So far, 22 campus safety officers and emergency personnel from Winthrop, Furman, Appalachian State, University of South Carolina and other regional institutions have registered to take the course led by Winthrop Police Chief Frank Zebedis, one of the first instructors selected when the program kicked off in July 2005.
There are now 48 instructors like Zebedis across the nation training law enforcement and other emergency aids to be "on the same page" when emergencies arise.
"It's a very good program," Zebedis said. "I hope it's as successful as we think it'll be."
The training program is offered not only to law enforcement but to any emergency response personnel who could have an impact on emergency situations on campus or in the Rock Hill area. This includes facilities management, medical workers, and the Rock Hill fire department.
"The program takes an all-hazards approach," Zebedis said. "If we were to have an emergency of any magnitude, the quicker we respond the safer our students and the citizens in Rock Hill will be."
Assistant Campus Police Chief Daniel Yeargin recently participated in a similar program in Georgia. He said the training is so effective that everyone involved in emergency response should be required to sign up as a student.
"Dealing with emergency incidents can be confusing, with lots of logistics, planning and specialized teams," Yeargin explained. "The ICS gives us all a single system to operate under so that we can all work together in the most efficient and rapid means necessary to bring the incident under control."
Schools can benefit from the program, Yeargin said.
"The training is very intense, and participants take it very seriously," Yeargin said.
The course will be held Feb. 13-15, lasting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Withers/W.T.S. Building.
The Incident Command System [ICS] course is a free, three-day training program funded by a grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security that will be held at Winthrop. The national program, created because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, sets a standard procedure for all emergencies, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks and school shootings.
The training covers prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in response to emergencies, with exercises in a tabletop "model campus" simulator as well as case studies and hands-on experience.
So far, 22 campus safety officers and emergency personnel from Winthrop, Furman, Appalachian State, University of South Carolina and other regional institutions have registered to take the course led by Winthrop Police Chief Frank Zebedis, one of the first instructors selected when the program kicked off in July 2005.
There are now 48 instructors like Zebedis across the nation training law enforcement and other emergency aids to be "on the same page" when emergencies arise.
"It's a very good program," Zebedis said. "I hope it's as successful as we think it'll be."
The training program is offered not only to law enforcement but to any emergency response personnel who could have an impact on emergency situations on campus or in the Rock Hill area. This includes facilities management, medical workers, and the Rock Hill fire department.
"The program takes an all-hazards approach," Zebedis said. "If we were to have an emergency of any magnitude, the quicker we respond the safer our students and the citizens in Rock Hill will be."
Assistant Campus Police Chief Daniel Yeargin recently participated in a similar program in Georgia. He said the training is so effective that everyone involved in emergency response should be required to sign up as a student.
"Dealing with emergency incidents can be confusing, with lots of logistics, planning and specialized teams," Yeargin explained. "The ICS gives us all a single system to operate under so that we can all work together in the most efficient and rapid means necessary to bring the incident under control."
Schools can benefit from the program, Yeargin said.
"The training is very intense, and participants take it very seriously," Yeargin said.
The course will be held Feb. 13-15, lasting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Withers/W.T.S. Building.
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