EMU Attempts to Improve Security By Hiring New Firm

This Monday, Feb 25 EMU will be awarding its security contract to a new firm, Admiral Security. According to Physical Plant director Eldon Kurtz, the move should increase morale among security officers and increase retention of employees.

EMU’s security car will now be piloted by a different firm as a result of the recent change of security companies. (Photo: Sunil Dick)

Kurtz stated that the decision to change firms was largely due to the new benefits that officers will receive. According to Kurtz, officers who received almost zero benefits before the change will now be offered perks such as health care. He believes that this will result in officers being more positive about their work assignments and will increase motivation. Admiral security plans to provide all of these changes within the current security budget. “The company is able to offer a better package of pay and benefits for the officers without raising the cost of what we’ve been paying,” said Kurtz.

Discussion about the change first began when Kurtz was approached by a representative from Admiral Security. After meeting with the manager, Kurtz said that he was impressed by “his philosophy of understanding employees. People are the whole deal…the kind of people you have and how they’re managed.” Perhaps the most important aspect of the final decision was a recommendation from one of the firm’s other clients, Blue Ridge Community College. Kurtz said that Admiral security has been contracted by BRCC for the past two and a half years and was very highly recommended by the college. A few officers will participate in cross training at BRCC and EMU. Officers from the firm also receive extensive training from the company before entering the field.

Although Kurtz acknowledged that some of the recent reports about lack of response from security played a role in the change, he said, “some of that [lack of response] has to do with cell phone coverage.” He said that these dead spots in some basements and buildings are an ongoing problem that is being discussed. “I’ve had some conversations and emails with the folks over in IS,” Kurtz said, “and they’ve made us aware of some opportunities. Some ways of improving the signal.”

Although he said that the benefits for students still remain to be seen, Kurtz expects to see more interaction between security and students. There is also the anticipation for some kind of student training aimed at getting students more involved in the security process and increasing campus safety.

Even though the security firm is changing, not all of the current security guards will be leaving. Barbara Pido, who has been serving EMU for 10 years, will be the new site supervisor. Pido has also been attending some CJP seminars focused on leadership. Christopher Rubel will also be staying on. The new officers met with Residence Life staff this week to become familiar with the campus.

Although not continuing with Central Security Bureau, Kurtz was quick to praise the company for its service and insisted that the change was well received. He said, “[CSB] is a good company in many regards and we want to keep on good terms with them.”

Kurtz summed up all of the new changes by saying, “Our intent in doing this is to show that we value the security officers and that we understand that having good officers is critical to having a responsive security service. We felt that there were enough positives being presented that we made the change. I think you’ll see a little more interaction and a little more involvement [from officers].”