U. holds open house for Public Safety's new home

The $3.5 million building unifies the department in a single location just west of campus. Amid balloons, fanfare and cameras from local television news crews, people from all over the University community gathered yesterday to celebrate the opening of the Division of Public Safety's new, $3.5 million headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street. The official unveiling of the renovated two-story warehouse fulfills one of Public Safety Managing Director Tom Seamon's long-term goals: the consolidation of all campus security operations. The spacious, nearly-windowless facility -- located far west of the center of campus -- houses University Police and Public Safety's Special Services division, in addition to Spectaguard security operations and the campus' electronic-security center. "The building bespeaks our continued commitment to this community and its safety," University President Judith Rodin told more than 100 people who spilled out of the building's large roll-call room. Just one year ago, Public Safety operations were scattered in four different locations: a townhouse in Superblock, a two-story brick annex behind it, a building on the 3900 block of Walnut Street and an office in Graduate Tower B at 37th and Chestnut streets. Last January, the department consolidated some of its operations into a mini-station on 40th Street. That space will soon house the offices of the University City District. Also, dispatchers will continue to work out of the townhouse at 3914 Locust Walk for a few more months as the department readies a new communications system. One of the new features of the headquarters is the PennCom center, which is connected to high-speed cameras atop the station. Although the cameras can focus on any location on campus, they currently monitor the immediate area. Television monitors at the center also cover all parts of the headquarters, including its loading dock and holding cells. The center also has a terminal that monitors cameras at many campus buildings, including the Graduate School of Education and the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Normally, guards at the center will not continually keep tabs on those cameras, but if an incident occurs, the center will quickly receive pictures from the scene. The new building also has holding cells, unlike the old Public Safety headquarters on Locust Walk. Additionally, it has an exercise room and an expanded dining area -- amenities they didn't have in the past due to a lack of space. The department began moving into the new building during winter break. After Rodin's remarks, Seamon, a former deputy Philadelphia Police commissioner, introduced Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Neal by saying he hoped his former boss "wasn't too jealous" of the new facility. Seamon joined Penn in 1995. Neal said he did feel some "envy," and that the new headquarters "goes a long way to provide service to the West Philadelphia area." At the conclusion of the ceremony, Seamon presented Rodin and Executive Vice President John Fry with honorary University Police badges. With the new badges, the two will have additional parking privileges, Seamon joked. But Seamon said that Rodin and Fry would also have to serve with other police officers. "You can count on us," Rodin said. Following the presentation, Seamon led the attendees on a tour of the facility.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.