Security welcomes Crime Stoppers to campus

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:26:10 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is considered an extremely safe campus – and a recent survey of it's students, staff and faculty back that claim. Keeping it that way and improving upon those perceptions are constant goals of the U of L's Security and Parking Services unit.

To that end, the U of L has entered into a partnership with Southern Alberta Crime Stoppers.

"From the outset I have emphasized the importance of our office partnering with groups such as Crime Stoppers to maintain a safe and informed campus community," says John O'Keefe, the U of L's director of Security and Parking. "A recent survey showed that 96 per cent of respondents felt they were very safe on campus, but we don't want to rest on our laurels. Our aim is to achieve 97 per cent next year and 98 per cent the year after that."

By bringing Crime Stoppers to campus and utilizing the resources they can supply, O'Keefe sees security moving forward.

"In my opinion, only by being dynamic and aware of the ever-changing world we live in will we be able to maintain the campus community's expectations of this department," he says.

Crime Stoppers is a civilian, non-profit, charitable organization that brings
together, in a tripartite relationship, the police services of a community, the media and the community in the fight against crime. Crime Stoppers provides citizens with the opportunity to anonymously supply the police with information about a crime or potential crime of which they have knowledge. Cash rewards are offered to people who call the program and their information leads to an arrest.

The on campus relationship allows students, staff and faculty the opportunity to anonymously report crimes or the potential for crimes by contacting either campus security or accessing Crime Stoppers through a variety of means. People can dial 1-800-222-8477, text TIP232 to CRIMES or submit a tip online at www.tipsubmit.com. Campus security can be contacted by calling 403-329-2345.

Crime Stoppers is also international and can be accessed throughout North America and much of Europe.

In good hands with O'Keeffe

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:27:58 +0000

For many of us, the only interaction we have with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge security force is on the wrong end of a parking violation, when in fact Security and Parking is so much more. For John O'Keeffe, who has seen action in some of the world's most troubled regions, the ability to handle this political landmine comes from experience with the real thing.

"It's too bad that a lot of the good things we do get forgotten when we hand out a parking citation," O'Keeffe, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's new director of Security and Parking, says with a laugh.
"I would like to keep reminding people we are a community-based service, that's my big goal, for us not to be seen as just a parking service."

O'Keeffe comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ fresh out of the British military, where he served for 23 years. Stationed at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield the last four years, he retired from active service to seek a permanent home in Canada.

He assumes the role left by Randy Joseph, and while heading up a military police detachment might not seem parallel to running a university security office, O'Keeffe says the two organizations are strikingly similar.

"There are many parts of this job and the university life that are very similar to military life," he explains. "Here, we are in a hierarchical structure with someone at the top who is the boss and there are different organizations below, all with their own responsibilities. The military is very much the same.
"Our deans and professors are in the officer ranks and the others are almost like the soldiers, working in the background making things happen."

A non-commissioned soldier, O'Keeffe joined the military as a 16-year old for what he expected would be a three-year term. It turned into a career that took him to every continent on the planet but Antarctica. His tours included highlight postings in Hong Kong, Kenya and Australia, as well as numerous stops in Europe. He also served on United Nations forces in locales such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland, eventually retiring on pre-selection to the position of Regimental Sergeant Major, the highest rank for a non-commissioned soldier.

"I've seen my fair share of good and bad," he says.

Reviewing the campus emergency response plan is a key priority for O'Keeffe, but just learning the unique terminology of the job, as well as introducing himself to the many units on campus has dominated his time.

"I still have to establish myself within the organization and get people to understand how I work," he says. "The biggest thing I've got to do is convince people that I'm not Randy and we have our different workings. We both strive toward the end result but we're going to probably do it different ways."

He admits his interview for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ posting was the first of his life and was not exactly sure how it should be approached. Walking away he felt good, and not just about his performance.

"I remember thinking it would be upsetting if I didn't get the job but more than anything, I'd be really disappointed if I didn't get to work with the people I'd met," he says.

GET THE FACTS

• O'Keeffe's wife Amanda is a paralegal and they own a two-year old German shepherd, Ben.

• He has been commuting to the U of L daily from Medicine Hat.

• O'Keeffe was born in Sheffield, a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Sheffield gained its reputation for its steel production in the 19th century.

• Stationed at CFB Suffield, O'Keeffe's military police looked over a base considered the largest in the Commonwealth at 2,962 square kilometers.

• O'Keeffe on staying in Canada upon retiring from the military, "If I was to tie it up into one thing it would be the quality of life. I think everybody has opportunity within Canada and that's the biggest plus for me."

UNews - director of Security and Parking

Security welcomes Crime Stoppers to campus

Related Topics

In good hands with O'Keeffe

Related Topics