Maintaining and enforcing public safety are not static professions. They are constantly evolving, with new standards and requirements popping up all the time. It’s KOVA’s job to stay on top of those changes, and that’s why we’re going to be participating in this year’s New Jersey College and University Public Safety Association Conference.
The conference, which will take place from April 19th-21st at the Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, will include vendors with the latest public safety technology, lectures and advisory sessions by some of the top experts and officials in the field, and multiple networking opportunities for all attendees.
Here’s a more specific, though by no means complete, breakdown of what the NJ-CUPSA will offer at this year’s convention.
Keynote speaker
On the first evening of the conference, Dr. Chris Rodriguez, from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, will speak. Rodriguez served in the CIA for more than a decade before accepting the Homeland Security position, rising to the position of Senior Analyst in the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center.
In addition, Rodriguez has travelled the world and served in both Iran and Iraq.
There are few people in the country more qualified to speak on the issue of public safety than Dr. Rodriguez.
Campus trends and threat assessment
Critical Infrastructure Coordinator Audrey Miller and Intelligence Analyst Paige Schilling will lead this seminar on the second day of the conference.
Unfortunately, more and more threats to public safety seem to be happening on college campuses these days, and that means that those tasked with keeping students safe must be as informed as possible on different methods, tactics and strategies.
The more a public safety worker knows about the possible threats that are on our country’s college campuses, the more likely they’ll be able to work effectively if the worst happens.
Active shooter and campus issues
FBI Special Agent Bruce Kamerman will be on hand immediately after the Threat Assessment seminar to discuss what happens when the worst does occur.
Active shooting situations on college campuses are among the most terrifying situations that can happen, and as sad as it might be to say, they are becoming increasingly common.
With the help of special agent Kamerman, public safety workers can learn about how to react in those crucial first moments after an active shooter is detected on campus.
Vendor reception and exhibit
Later on the second day of the conference, vendors will be in the ballroom of the Resorts Hotel & Casino, showing off some of the most recent developments in public safety technology.
From PSAP call recorders and response systems to better protection for those out on the front lines, these vendors will have the most cutting-edge new tools that you can use to keep yourself, and those you’re protecting, safe.
This is an area of public safety that seems to change by the second, so it would serve anyone in the field well to stop by the exhibition and see what’s new.
Panel discussion: Diversity/Relations on campus with Vickie Weaver, Dr. Pamela Pruitt, and Susan Stahley
As our population grows more diverse, it goes without saying that college campuses will become more diverse as well.
Dr. Pruitt, director of Rider University’s Department of Multicultural Affairs; Vickie Weaver, the Director of Public Safety at Rider; and Susan Stahley, of the university’s Substance Abuse Prevention Office, will discuss not just the way public safety workers and officials will need to adapt to a culturally diverse student body, but also how to foster better relations between students and staff.
One of the keys to better protecting the public is better understanding them, and this panel discussion will be a useful lesson in how to do that.
KOVA is proud to be a part of this year’s conference, because we’re committed to being responsive to changes in our ever-evolving public safety industry. We hope to see you at the Resorts Hotel & Casino on April 19th!
