October 14, 2005
Responding to the need for exchange between emergency management
professionals—especially relevant given recent news—St. John’s
University’s Department of Public Safety hosted a meeting for over
40 law enforcement and security professionals, many of whom are
Public Safety Directors at local colleges and universities
including Adelphi University, Long Island University, United States
Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point and SUNY State College of
Optometry.
Held on Friday, September 20, at St. John’s School of Law, the
meeting included a presentation by Gerard McEnerney, Executive
Director of Emergency Management, St. John’s University, entitled
“Developing Our Emergency Management and Operating Plan.” A
representative of Con Edison’s emergency management team and the
Director of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management
presented on the impact of hurricanes on the metropolitan area.
From the American Red Cross, a representative briefed those in
attendance on the Red Cross response to Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita.
In addition to Public Safety Directors, representatives from the
FBI, the United States Secret Service, the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey, the United States Department of
Transportation, Maritime Administration and the New York City
Police and Fire Departments also attended.
The meeting concluded with a tour of St. John's University’s
Public Safety Command Center. During the tour, many of the
enforcement and security professionals commented on the recently
upgraded—now state-of-the-art—closed circuit television network in
the Public Safety Control Center.
Thomas Lawrence, Vice President for Public Safety, St. John’s
University, stated that this meeting “…affords those responsible
for public safety at the colleges and universities in our area an
opportunity to discuss best practices and topics of critical
concern to those in the public safety field. Hosting such a meeting
enables us to review our procedures and enhance our public safety
posture.”
View the photo
gallery from this event.