UPPD to direct housing security

The Division of Public Safety is preparing to assume the responsibility of supervising security for Residential Living by the end of this month, Security Services Director Chris Algard said yesterday. Algard said this is part of a larger effort to better coordinate campus security operations. "We know we need better working relationships with other security services to look at standardization in terms of the minimal amounts of service and the quality of service," Algard said. "We need to enhance the delivery of services around here." Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said she is meeting with Algard to make sure the transition goes smoothly. "The primary goal is to have security coordinated through one central place," she said. "I'm not sure there will be much difference on the day to day security experience on campus and in particular the residential [areas]. "From where I stand, the motivation seems for the residential security to be coordinated by the central security experts," Simeone added. Algard said that although Public Safety is taking over residential security, there is currently no plan to take over security supervision from other departments. He said he is also working on the highly anticipated Public Safety master plan -- which is expected to be made public by the end of the month. "We're looking at enhancing security service in regards to the guard operation and technical operations throughout the University of Pennsylvania," he said. Facilities and Residential Operations Assistant Director Gordon Richards, who used to supervise security for residential living, said the move was not a slight to Residential Living's ability to manage an important operation, but part of "the bigger issue to centralize everything and make it consistent on campus."

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