BCC, Sheriff s Office Team to Strengthen Campus Security

Brevard Community College is partnering with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencies to strengthen security and safety as BCC becomes a state college.

The steps include opening police substations on BCC’s Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay campuses to better protect the College’s 35,000 students, faculty and staff.

Other moves will more closely link emergency response efforts between the College and the agencies if a critical incident were to occur.

The measures were announced Monday by BCC President, Dr. Jim Richey, and Sheriff Wayne Ivey in coordination with local police and fire departments and Brevard County Fire-Rescue.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, faculty, staff and any member of the public who comes onto our campuses,” said Richey.

“The new measures will strengthen the security practices we already have in place and better prepare the College and law enforcement to respond rapidly in an emergency.

“We’re working closely with the Sheriff’s Office and police and fire departments to create a comprehensive approach to safety.

“The College’s 48 active security officers will also continue to provide around-the-clock protection for our four campuses, playing a key role in safeguarding the College while expanding their already excellent working relationship with law enforcement,” said Richey.

The enhancements follow a review of all BCC operations that Richey initiated when he became president last year and began preparing the College to start offering four-year degrees in August.

BCC will have a new name — Eastern Florida State College — to reflect its heightened status July 1.

The partnership was initiated prior to the December mass-shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, with officials working since late fall on details of the plan, Richey said. The Sandy Hook slayings have “further reinforced the need to do everything possible to protect people on our campuses,” he said.

Under the plan, the Sheriff’s Office will coordinate efforts with Brevard County Fire-Rescue and the Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay Police and Fire Departments to:

• Create substations on each campus for deputies and police officers to increase their presence on campus and help provide a safe educational environment.
• Conduct comprehensive security reviews of each campus and familiarize themselves with campus layouts.
• Integrate the College’s emergency response plan with the Sheriff’s Office and municipal police and fire departments.
• Lead coordinated crisis-response training exercises with College officials.
• Offer crime awareness training for new BCC students as well as current students, faculty and staff.
• Develop awareness programs at each campus for Brevard citizens, which will provide valuable crime prevention information.

“This renewed focus and partnership will reinforce security measures that are based on an existing foundation forged by our outstanding relationship with BCC and the entire public safety community,” said Sheriff Ivey.

“This program is very consistent with the partnership recently initiated with the Brevard County School Board. These efforts are designed not only to ensure that our educational environment is safe, but, more importantly, this partnership will result in better preparing our citizens to protect themselves. A well informed community is a safer community.”

For more information, contact: Major James Woolsey, Brevard County Sheriff's Office, 321-633-7162; and John Glisch, Associate Vice President for Communications, Brevard Community College, 321-433-7017, glischj@brevardcc.edu.