Hopkins increases security

Johns Hopkins University Security is currently operating with six vacancies, but those vacancies are accounted for by outside contracted officers, according to Director of Security Ronald Mullen. Hopkins Security also continues to carry a heightened supplement of officers due to the current national crisis.

Hopkins Security currently employs 47 sworn officers, according to Mullen. These officers are supplemented by Silver Star Security (SSS), which provides eight additional officers throughout the day, seven days a week. SSS provides two officers during the 7 a.m.-3 p.m. shift, three officers during the 3 p.m.-11 p.m. shift and three during the 11 p.m.-7 a.m. shift. There are a total of 13 officers under contract from SSS.

Mullen said that the supplement from SSS gives him more officers than he really needs.

"We're about six [Hopkins Security Officers] under where I'd like to be," said Mullen. "But the supplement from Silver Star Security gives us an extraordinary number. [With the extra officers coming in], we're over where I really want to be."

Mullen says Security will continue to staff high numbers of officers during the current crisis.

"Until national security settles down, we'll keep Silver Star here and continue to have a larger number of officers," said Mullen.

SSS began supplementing Hopkins Security last year in order to offer assistance when the University started construction on campus. Hopkins has also been contracting out to Burns International Security to oversee the Homewood Apartments since the building opened.

The current vacancies in Hopkins Security are the result of a new high demand by other organizations for the type of trained officers that Hopkins enlists. According to Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance James McGill, these vacancies are not uncommon.

"It's not unusual to have these vacancies," said McGill. "It's tough to recruit and retain officers right now. They're really in demand."

According to McGill, it is not always necessary to fill vacancies when they occur, but when the need does arise, positions are supplemented as necessary.

"Vacant positions are authorized to be filled by contracted people," said McGill. "If a vacant position arises and it needs to be filled, it's filled. During special occurrences we will often staff more than the necessary number."

Mullen continues to recruit officers and has seven interviews scheduled next week for potential officers. Mullen also says that Hopkins' security presence is bigger than that of other schools.

"We surpass a majority of other institutions, such as Loyola and Morgan State, in size," said Mullen.

With the current supplements from SSS, Hopkins Security accounts for the current vacancies while also providing extra security, according to both Mullen and McGill.

"We do and will continue to do everything necessary to provide security on campus to fully protect faculty and students," said McGill. "We put all necessary resources into security operations."

In addition to adding SSS officers to their staff, Hopkins Security has implemented other sensitive security measures. Security has joined with Student Residential Life Staff in starting a guest sign-in register at all three off campus undergraduate dormitories.

Mail security has also increased. Security has conducted refreshers for mail staff concerning the recognition of suspicious letters and packages. Each piece of incoming mail also now goes through a second handling and examination. The first is during the initial hand sort of mail into each department's individual pigeonhole after its delivery by the US Postal Service. The second examination is done as each piece of mail is removed from these pigeonholes and before it is placed into a plastic basket specific to the campus building of destination. If a suspicious piece of mail is found, security is notified.