Safety & Security

By John Philip Brachner

If it weren't for budgets, meeting campus safety and property protection needs would be simple. But budgets are a fact of life, as are the other priorities that vie for budgetary attention. Are you doing all you can to secure your piece of the budgetary pie? The answer actually might be "no,"not because you're not doing a good job, but rather because you may be overlooking the many valuable roles played by so-called "security lighting." The principle role of security lighting is obvious. In reality, however, it provides just about the best and the lowest cost security available, for property and people alike. Good lighting can encourage those up to no good to go elsewhere. And unlike security patrols, security lighting is where it's most needed when it's most needed, giving those who rely on it an opportunity to spot potential trouble in advance, and take precautionary measures. At Bryant College (Smithfield, RI), lighting around the commuter parking lot was not effective enough to discourage vandalism of parked cars, break-ins, and thefts, nor was it sufficient to prevent an overabundance of vehicle/vehicle accidents. Students and teachers who parked there were concerned for their own safety as well as for their vehicles' safety. After new lighting was installed, the problems almost disappeared. From a short-term, bottom-line point of view, and using current value dollars, the school saved about $1,000 per year in accident clean-up costs, plus another $3,000 annually in vandalism avoidance. Students and faculty benefited, too, given that they avoided about $10,000 annually in fender-bender repair costs. And, somewhat ironically, the improved lighting that permitted those savings cost 45% less per year to operate and maintain. And as for long-term benefits? According to the school's director of physical plant, "There is a direct benefit to the school, its students, and the local community when it offers a safer, more hospitable, and more aesthetically pleasing environment."Because better security lighting helps people see more, faster; it may be possible to cut back on security patrols without compromising safety. That's exactly what Central Michigan University (CMU) did, when officials decided to modify 244 existing pole-mounted walkway lights. "Should we use 15OW high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps and reduce energy consumption, or use 25OW HPS lamps and increase energy consumption?" And what was chosen? The 25OW lamps, because they produced so much more light, they permitted security patrol cutbacks. As a result, officials traded a modest cost increase for a substantial $10,000-per-year labor savings. Insurance costs may also be positively affected by good security lighting. In light of today's competition for the insurance dollar, insurance company underwriters are quick to give credit where it is due, providing you point out how improved lighting reduces risk, as well as the costly paperwork, claims, bad publicity, and lawsuits that can make realized risk even more onerous. More on this topic, plus an abundance of case histories, links to other organizations, designers, manufacturers, etc., is available at the web site of the National Lighting Bureau (www.nlb.org), a 25-year-old not-for-profit information service sponsored by trade and professional societies, agencies of the federal government, utilities, and industry.

For more information, contact NLB at 8811 Colesville Road, Suite G106, Silver Spring, MD
20910; (301) 587-9572; e-mail: info@nlb.org. John Philip Bachner has served as executive vice president of the Property Management Association for almost a quarter century, and as the chief staff executive of the College o
Property Management Foundation, the Mid-Atlantic Council of Shopping Center Managers, and
the Design and Construction Quality Institute. He is also the author of The Guide to Practical
Property Management (McGraw-Hill).

From the newsletter of Christopher Hurst 2002 Session Report

Methamphetamine production has reached epidemic proportions in Washington state. According to the state Department of Ecology, the number of meth labs has increased from 349 in 1998 to approximately 1400 in 2000. This destructive drug triggers crime and violence, leads to the neglect of children, and creates toxic waste. As a law enforcement officer, I am on the front lines of the meth crisis that is spreading rapidlythroughout our state, especially in Pierce County. Though more labs are being discovered each year, law enforcement agencies are working smarter to root these operations out., and are determined to eradicate the production of meth. At the Legislature, we are trying to be smarter on crime by giving law enforcement agencies statewide the tools to tackle meth abuse. Last session, we passed several measures that will help stem the tide of meth spreading through our communities. This year we will continue to strengthen our state law to crack down on meth producers.

1. Work with public agencies and other organizations - neighborhood-based or community-wide - on solving common problems. Don't be shy about letting them know what your community needs.
2. Make sure that all the youth in the neighborhood have positive ways to spend their spare time, through organized recreation, tutoring programs, part-time work, and volunteer opportunities.
3. Set up a Neighborhood Watch or a community patrol, working with police. Make sure your streets and homes are well lighted.
4. Build a partnership with police, focused on solving problems instead of reacting to crises. Make it possible for neighbors to report suspicious activity or crimes without fear of retaliation.
5. Take advantage of "safety in numbers" to hold rallies, marches, and other group activities to show you're determined to drive out crime and drugs.
6. Clean up the neighborhood! Involve everyone - teens, children, senior citizens. Graffiti, litter, abandoned cars, and run-down buildings tell criminals that you don't care about where you live or each other. Call the city public works department and ask for help in cleaning up.
7. Ask local officials to use new ways to get criminals out of your building or neighborhood. These include enforcing anti-noise laws, housing codes, health and fire codes, anti-nuisance laws, and drug-free clauses in rental leases.
8. Form a Court Watch to help support victims and witnesses and to see that criminals get fairly punished.
9. Work with schools to establish drug-free, gun-free zones; work with recreation officials to do the same for parks.
10. Develop and share a phone list of local organizations that can provide counseling, job training, guidance, and other services that neighbors might need.

10 Reasons to License Your Pet

• It's current identification for your pet
• It looks Nice
• Your pet can be returned to you without coming to the shelter
• There is no impound fee the first time a pet wearing a current license is brought to the shelter
• It's the right thing to do for you, your pet and your community
• License fees help fund animal services, including monitoring dangerous dogs.
• A current license shows the world you care about your pet
• Neighbors will know your pet is not a stray
• Whoever finds your pet won't try to keep it.
• It's the law

How to reach the Humane Society

Two known cases of postal theft have occurred on Inlet Island in the last month (Feb. 2002). Both case were very serious where the criminal stole credit cards and began charging on the victims' accounts. The post office offers lock and key mailboxes for sale. Call your creditors if you feel you have been hit.

As an added protection you can place a FRAUD ALERT on your identity for future credit offerings by contacting the following major credit bureaus: