The Department of Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides uniformed security officers on campus and telecommunications staff in the office 24 hours a day. The department maintains regular foot and cruiser patrol of campus and responds to emergencies.
The department's staff includes the Director of Public Safety, Associate Director of Public Safety, Museum and Events Manager, Telecommunications Manager and Technical Support Specialist, On-Call Manager and Trainer, Sergeants (2 full time), an Administrative Assistant, Patrol Officers (11 full time), Residential Life Associate (1) on weekends, Telecommunications staff (6 full time, 3 part time, 4 on call), Art Museum Monitors (4 part time, 3 spare monitors), and on-call Special Events Staff.
Public Safety also hires students for Midd Rides.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Public Safety is to support the educational goals of the college by delivering services that enhance and protect the college community. An environment conducive to learning requires a commitment from each student, faculty member, staff member, and visitor to uphold the ideals of community living. It is the role of the members of the Department of Public Safety to ensure that those ideals are held in high regard by enforcing College policies, laws and ordinances, protecting property and persons, and offering services that contribute to an effective living and learning environment. We welcome you to contact us with any questions or concerns either by email, or telephone.
The Department of Public Safety reports to the Dean of the College. Public Safety Officers do not have powers of arrest but work closely with local law enforcement agencies. Incidents of crime are documented and the reports are provided to the appropriate agency in accordance with College policies. Investigations are managed cooperatively. When arrests must be conducted on campus, they are executed by the appropriate agency with the full cooperation and assistance of the Department of Public Safety.
The Department of Public Safety works closely with the Middlebury Police Department to uphold a community policing model of security. The Middlebury Police Department readily provides DPS with training in the areas of traffic enforcement, special equipment use, local ordinance enforcement and other areas of mutual interest or concern. The Department also works with the Vermont State Police, The State's Attorney of Addison County, Addison County Sheriff's Office, the State of Vermont Department of Liquor Control, Middlebury Fire Department, MVAA and Porter Hospital.
The DPS maintains two fully equipped patrol vehicles. Through the use of these vehicles, foot patrol and seasonal bike patrol, officers patrol the College's buildings and grounds. All officers carry radios and are CPR, First Aid and Automated External Defibrillator certified. The officers attend workshops and training seminars relevant to campus security and safety. These training sessions are provided by professionals in the fields of security, law enforcement, and emergency medical response. Additionally, many of the staff at the Department of Public Safety have extensive prior experience in law enforcement, safety, security work, emergency medical and fire response. One officer is also a current member of a local volunteer emergency medical service . Three are members of local volunteer fire departments.
Public Safety officers are often the first responder for assistance in reports of fire, medical emergencies and criminal activity. Fire alarm and intrusion alarm signals are received at the telecommunications center through a computerized alarm processing system. Middlebury College has an enhanced 911 system. This allows for emergency calls from the campus telephone system to be sent directly to the Vermont statewide 911 service. Details regarding the use of the 911 system appear in the Reporting Emergencies, Crime and Suspicious Activity section of this handbook.
Routine calls to the Department of Public Safety should be made to the general business line. This number is answered at the dispatch center and may also be reached by simply dialing the last four digits, 5133, from any campus extension. All calls originating on campus and received at the telecommunication center indicate the phone number from which the call was initiated.