Colleges across the country have stepped up their safety and security initiatives in the wake of recent mass shootings and tragedies. Campuses large and small have re-worked their security infrastructure and upgraded old and antiquated equipment. Louisburg College, located in Louisburg, North Carolina, has had great success with their transition to an updated security infrastructure.

Over the past several years Louisburg College has grown to nearly 700 students and 150 employees. The college has 37 buildings including seven residential facilities spread out across a large area. As the college steadily grew there were discussions about improving safety and security on campus.  Jeffery Linney, the Louisburg College Chief of Campus Safety and Police, was charged with improving the campus’s security systems and technology.

Originally installed at the college were several styles of call boxes and wall mounted emergency phones. Each unit was so old and outdated that the companies who made them were no longer in business or ceased making the phones. Additionally, there was a lack of emergency phones in open and remote areas. 

“We wanted to update our security infrastructure by updating our phones and specifically adding towers,” says Linney. “We wanted one emergency phone tower centrally located in a high traffic area as well as multiple wall mounted units added to our three newly remodeled residence halls.”

After some research Linney set up a meeting with Talk-A-Phone Co. to discuss options.

“Talk-A-Phone came with their demonstration van and showed us some cool things,” he says. “They set up a tower and set off an alarm that was very impressive. We ended up going with Talk-A-Phone and were excited about the possibilities the phones provided to enhance our capabilities on campus.” 

The phones were installed across campus and Linney quickly saw their effects. 

“We had an activation yesterday,” he says. “Our officers were dispatched, and we were able to address the situation. There is no place we can’t be within a minute or two if a callbox is activated. They make our job easier, and I think the units have given the students an increased sense of security.” 

The wall mounts and tower have been so well received by students and parents that the Louisburg admissions department has made them a key focus on tours.

When an individual is in need and activates a phone, they are immediately connected to the campus police dispatch center. The exact location of the unit is automatically provided to the dispatch center when the call is sent. This saves the dispatch center time trying to figure out the location of the call. Alerts are also sent to all officers on campus so that the nearest can respond accordingly.

A large part of the success of the emergency phones has been their high visibility, which deter crime. Each tower and wall mount is equipped with a blue LED light that can be seen across campus. When a unit is activated, the blue LED flashes until assistance arrives. 

“When I’m driving into work from home and I see that blue light lit up…to me that represents a safe campus,” Linney says. “I’m sure it’s the same for parents and students. If they’ve been to a lot of colleges, they know what these units represent.”

Alek Kireyenka is the marketing manager for Talk-A-Phone.

 

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