SUPPORT FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING Submitted by: University and College Police Section UPS.021.a08 WHEREAS, the IACP is the world's oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives comprised of many agencies who serve university and college populations; and WHEREAS, the impact of the rampage shootings on several universities and colleges in 2007 and 2008 continue to be felt across the country and world; these incidents along with other active shooter incidents have impacted our awareness of safety and security at institutions of higher education; and WHEREAS, a number of states, other governmental organizational and non-governmental organizations have convened groups to examine the lessons learned from the tragedy at Virginia Tech and other aspects of safety and security; and WHEREAS, the University and College Police Section of the IACP applauds these on-going efforts and believes the national attention that is focused on this issue presents an opportunity to initiate a national dialogue to strengthen university and college public safety, security and policing efforts to enhance the protection of the estimated 15 million students attending the 4,200 institutions of higher education in the United States; and WHEREAS, there are many recommendations that arise from these lessons learned, The University and College Police Section of the IACP has identified 20 specific recommendations to enhance safety and security and reinforce key goals and objectives in mitigating and responding to threats at institutions of higher education; and, WHEREAS, University and colleges should work with their local government partners and law enforcement agencies to improve plans for mutual aid in all areas of emergency planning and critical incident response and adopt proactive policing technologies, including that of victim services; and use the National Incident System (NIMS) as the framework to manage emergencies; and WHEREAS, campus law enforcement and public safety authorities must clearly understand their authority in addressing involuntary hospitalization procedures for members of the community they interact with who suffer from acute mental health disorders; and WHEREAS, institutions of higher education should have behavioral threat assessment team that includes representatives from law enforcement, human resources, student and academic affairs, legal counsel, and mental health functions; and WHEREAS, campus law enforcement and public safety organizations should develop collaborative, supportive relationships with victim advocacy services in order to respond directly and immediately to the needs of victims of crime; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 115th Annual Conference in San Diego, California calls upon its members to ensure that the leaders at institutions of higher education are made aware of these calls to action for adequate response in active shooter and other emergency situations. FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP supports continued safety and security measures be taken at all education institutions.