NORMAL, Ill. – Unarmed security officers are assisting the Illinois State University Police in making the campus safer. At its October meeting, the Illinois State University Board of Trustees approved a contract with G4s Wackenhut for unarmed security services to relieve the Illinois State University Police of non-core functions, such as access control, which reduces police service and response times. The new security officers began performing their duties on the campus today, Nov. 29.
The main duties for the security officers include opening, closing and checking doors to campus buildings; safe walk escorts; assisting faculty and staff who are locked out of buildings; assisting with special event security; and directed foot patrols of the campus. The security officers do not have law enforcement authority and are not permitted to take police action. However, the security officers will be in direct communication with the Illinois State University Police.
Security officers wear uniforms clearly distinguishable from the campus police and other local police agencies. Security officers wear beige polo shirts with the G4s Wackenhut logo on the sleeve with “Security” printed on the back of the shirt. They also wear black jackets with reflective “Security” appearing on both the front and back of the jacket.
Aaron Woodruff, interim chief of police at Illinois State University, believes that the addition of the security force will improve campus safety and security. “The management of G4S Wackenhut has been very professional in all our dealings,” Woodruff said. “They have worked with us to insure we have quality people serving in the security officer positions who understand their roles and relationship to the Illinois State University Police and the University community. They will be extra eyes and ears for the campus. The Illinois State University Police will now be able to focus on our core mission.”
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