Proactive policing at the heart of campus

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Cathy_O’Donnell.JPG” caption=”Cathy O’Donnell”]Crime prevention is on Cathy O'Donnell's radar screen.

McMaster's new sergeant of crime prevention, located in the new student centre, has a proactive approach to campus policing.

“It is better to prevent crime than it is to respond to crime or investigate crime after the fact,” she says.

With a focus on crime prevention and community relations, O'Donnell will provide a number of services in her new role, including offering educational programs, seminars and safety audits. She will also be available to provide a general overview of safety on campus and will liaise with the SWHAT (Student Walk Home Assistance Team) and the EFRT(Emergency First Response Team).

“We want to bring about an increased profile about being proactive on campus,” says Ron Thorn, director of security. “In preventing crime, we're trying to raise our crime prevention profile on campus. The availability of the office at the student centre also meant that we could have a closer association and communication with students.

“My hope is that Cathy will have the opportunity to talk to people at all different kinds of levels to get the message out there that we are trying to enhance the personal safety of people on campus,” he says.

The new office is a satellite location for McMaster Security Services, located in the E.T. Clarke Centre.

Located behind the information booth on the main level of the student centre, the crime prevention office will almost always have an open door. When O'Donnell isn't conducting seminars or talks on campus safety, she will be available for advice and assistance.

Campus safety seminars will begin this fall, she says. She will also offer talks to students in residence, on issues such as drug use and the law and personal safety.

O'Donnell will also work with Hamilton Police in providing seminars on how to secure off-campus housing and off-campus safety and security.

O'Donnell is not new to McMaster. After graduating from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 10 years ago, she was offered a job as a security officer at McMaster.

She has always been a firm believer in crime prevention. “Nothing has ever excited me more,” she says. “When I was a tot I loved Elmer the Safety Elephant,” she laughs. “The whole reason I got into law enforcement is because I wanted to work with the community.”

O'Donnell feels strongly about her new position. “I'm looking forward to the challenges this is going to bring,” she says, “and the opportunity to create something positive and new to McMaster.”