Utah Tech

University Safety & Risk Management

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Initiatives & Objectives
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Message from the Chief Safety Officer/Executive Director & Chief of Police/Director:

Chief Bridge and I would like to welcome you to Utah Tech University. UT is recognized as one of the safest university campuses in the nation. We are honored to serve you with a transformative and elevated University Safety and Risk Management Department. Our efforts require going beyond historical public safety, EHS and risk management practices. Our unified departments consist of Enterprise Risk & Emergency Management, University Police, Fire Marshal’s Office, Parking Services, Health & Safety. We are committed to increasing customer service, accessibility, engagement and strengthening professional standards. We are confident that our continued dedication to demonstrate innovation will help serve as a best practice model.

We are passionate about safety and teamwork. We look forward to leading with professionalism and integrity. After more than a combined 45 years in public safety, we know that the future of university safety depends on listening and collaborating with the UT community. We must be open to doing our work differently and holding ourselves accountable.

We are dedicated to earning the UT community’s trust, and partnering with you to create a welcoming and safe campus. With the changes we are implementing, University Safety operations are becoming part of a synergistic, transparent and strategic effort that allows us to work together to build an environment where everyone can feel safe, be successful and achieve their goals.

Thanks,

Josh Thayn & Ron Bridge

Vision

Provide a SAFER university at which to learn, work and create.

Mission Statement

We will reimagine and transcend active safety culture by elevating university safety best practices and enterprise risk management. Everyone is SAFER through campus engagement, collaboration and community partnerships. We commit to proactive excellence with synergistic risk and emergency management, police protection and fire prevention, security and parking services, and health and safety. All are united in support of the university’s mission, vision and values.

ACTIVE SAFETY 24/7/365 for a SAFER university

Collaborating together as an institution we must commit to safety and security within our university and campus culture. We do this by prioritizing safety as one of our highest priorities. Where everyone is empowered to be a safety officer and risk manager. “Every employee has the Right and Authority to Stop Unsafe Work.” If we see a safety hazard or security threat we say something and report it or do something about it. This principle, practice and slogan is “ACTIVE SAFETY” and we do this “24/7/365”. Our department comprises the following SAFER team areas and the concept that we are in a partnership with the university and greater campus community for a SAFER university:

  • Security & Parking Services
  • Active Police & Public Safety
  • Fire Prevention, Health & Life Safety
  • Emergency Management & Business Continuity
  • Risk Management & Insurance

Values

  • Service
  • Accountability
  • Forward-thinking
  • Excellence
  • Respect

Initiatives & Objectives

SAFER Initiatives, Objectives & Goals
  1. Improve customer service, campus engagement and university partnerships
    • Campus/Community Oriented Public Safety (COPS)
    • Department After-Action Reporting and Quality Assurance Survey
  2. Assess and improve pedestrian walkways and traffic support streets (University Ave. at HPC, 600 S and 1000 East)
  3. Involve University Safety & Risk Management in the Facilities Management construction process from design, to plan review, fire inspections and final certified occupancy
  4. Develop and deliver social media campaigns with training for civilians & students
    • Street smarts (situational awareness & property theft avoidance), identity fraud and internet protection
    • Event Safety
  5. Establish facilities security & safety training and/or task force
  6. Increase parking lot patrol & general campus safety
    • Police officers & parking attendants to be cross-trained for fire alarm, parking and facility security, and increased visual crime determent through foot, bike, building, and vehicle patrol
    • Lighting Assessment
  7. Mental Health Initiatives
    • Institution resources, MCOT, SGRH & BWC
    • First Responder/Military (PTSD) & Student Mental Health Programs (CISD)
  8. Invest in the US & RM team
    • Support, collaborate, develop and equip
    • All safety staff are required to take First Aid/CPR, NIMS/IC 100, 200, 700, 800, & MGT-360
    • Add 1-2 additional police officers by 2024
    • Pursue the addition of full-time E/O Health & Safety Officer or Industrial Hygienist position for regulatory compliance programs, OSHA, EPA, etc. (compliance, SDS, hazmat, lab & bio safety, hoods, chemical waste, radiation, air quality, storm/waste water, food safety etc.)
    • Explore the feasibility of a Student/Police first response EMT program (tier pay for PD-EMT certification)
    • Capitalize on the use of technology (ERM/EHS software)
  9. Establish Strategic Plan, elevate Clery compliance & maintain police accreditation
    • Establish a five-year department strategic plan with focus on customer service, campus engagement, university collaboration and accessibility
  10. Comprehensive al-hazards university emergency preparedness, protection, mitigation, response and recovery
    • New pre-event messaging and evacuation videos
    • Add an IC/Resilience trailer to the fleet
    • Training & Annual full-scale exercise
    • Severe Weather Plan
    • Update Health & Safety Procedures
Committees & Campus Community Involvement
  • Risk & Safety
  • Lab Safety
  • CARE Team
  • Crisis Communications Team
  • Vehicle Transportation and Parking
  • Scheduling and Events
  • LEPC
  • SWAT
  • Clery and Public Safety
  • Title IX
  • Dove Center
  • Inclusion & Diversity
  • Anti-Bias
  • Harassment & Discrimination
  • Healthy Trailblazer Coalition
Civilian Preparedness & Response Training
  • Meet Us, Before You Need Us
  • Self-Defense Awareness and Focused Empowerment (S.A.F.E. ) Class:
    Utah Tech University Police Department (UTPD) offers a six-hour course covering self-protection and self-defense. The class is offered to Utah Tech University faculty, staff, and students. The purpose and goal of the class focuses on awareness, assault prevention, risk reduction, strategies and avoidance in conjunction with defensive training tactics. The S.A.F.E. class will help educate and train specifically on how to defend yourself physically from assaults. The classes are taught by UTPD Police Officers and Staff. The S.A.F.E. class is an 6 hour course broken down into four 2 hour classes. Classes are limited to 12 participants and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be required to sign a liability waiver in order to participate. PLEASE EMAIL POLICERECORDS@UTAHTECH.EDU OR CALL 435-652-7515 FOR COURSE DATE INFORMATION.
  • FEMA Civilian Preparedness to Active Shooter and/or Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRAZE)
  • Victim Advocate through the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA)
  • Making Respect the Standard in Relationships Respect My Red
  • Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Be Ready Utah & Make A Plan
  • Utah Department of Public Safety-Fire Marshal Division Home Safety & Fire Prevention
  • Fire Safety & Risk Reduction USFA Campus Fire Safety Outreach Materials & Community Risk Reduction
  • National Weather Service – Local Forecast
  • Caught Being Safe! Program
  • Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project

Learn More

AED's & Stop the Bleed

The university has AED’s readily available all over campus. They include Stop-The-Bleed Kits in cabinets.

Learn More

ASFSR, Campus Safety Plan & Accreditation

The department is committed to IACLEA & UCOPA Accreditation.

The Utah Tech University (UT) Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available online. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning fires in on-campus student housing facilities and concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by UT, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes information on institutional policies and other materials concerning campus security and fire safety, including policies concerning student sexual assault. View a copy of the report. If you have questions or would like a printed copy of the report at no charge, please contact UT Police Department, 225 South University Ave., St. George, Utah 84770.

 

Learn More

First Responder & Military Mental Health Program
  • First Responder & Military Mental Health Program (PTSD)
  • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

Learn More

University Event Safety

Keep in Touch

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@utahtech_police

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Contact

Satisfaction Survey

Meet Our Team

Josh Thayn

Chief Safety Officer/Executive Director

Email: Josh.Thayn@utahtech.edu

Phone: 435-652-7855

Office: FacMan 148

Ron Bridge

Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety

Email: Ron.Bridge@utahtech.edu

Phone: 435-652-7515

Office: BNO 162