Oct. 16, 2024

Dear UMB Community:

As you may have guessed from the name, the UMB Department of Police and Public Safety isn’t just about police. In fact, October is National Fire Safety Month, so right now we’re doing all we can to promote fire safety on and off campus.

All month, the Office of the Fire Marshal is visiting buildings across campus to answer questions and provide training. It has some nice giveaways, too, so check out the schedule of events to see how you can participate. The last event is Oct. 30 at the SMC Campus Center, so there’s no excuse to miss out!

In University buildings, we ask you to do a few simple things. Report any signs of smoke or fire by activating your building’s fire alarm — and please leave after you do so! If a fire alarm goes off, please immediately leave the building. Of course, it’s a good idea to know the proper evacuation route in advance. We encourage everyone to complete Emergency Preparedness Training, a 15-minute online interactive training that is designed to be completed on a smartphone or tablet while in a UMB building.

At home, one of the most important steps you can take to be fire safe is to make sure you have working smoke alarms that are installed properly. Not sure if yours are working or in the right places? Just ask our fire safety experts or check out this guide. Is your campus residence fire safe? There’s a checklist for that, too.

Sincerely,

Thomas Leone, MSL

Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police

Safety Tip: Daylight Saving Time Ends Soon

As Daylight Saving Time nears its end Nov. 3 and the days grow shorter, it’s important to stay vigilant about personal safety on campus, especially during early morning and evening hours when it gets darker. Whether you’re walking or biking, stick to well-lit paths and avoid shortcuts. If you’re heading to your vehicle or nearby residence after dark, consider using our Safe Walk or Safe Ride services for added peace of mind.

Safe Walk is available 24/7. Request a Safe Walk by calling 410-706-6882.

Safe Ride is available 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., 365 days a year. Request a Safe Ride through the Mobile UMB App. No smartphone? Call 410-706-6882.

More information, including the boundary map for Safe Walk and Safe Ride services, is available here.

Stay aware of your surroundings, and don’t hesitate to report any suspicious activity to our police and security officers. Together, we can help keep UMB safe!

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

UMB’s 2024 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available. The report includes crime data for the campus, crime and sexual misconduct prevention resources, fire safety information, safety tips, and more. The UMB community also can get information about criminal incidents on campus by checking the daily crime and fire log.

PAL Fall Session Underway

The Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL)program is in full swing for the fall session. PAL provides after-school mentoring for youth and builds relationships with police and public safety. If you are interested in enrolling your child in the PAL program, please register here.

Celebrating 35 Years of Service

After 35 years of dedicated service, security officer Sheila Johnson is retiring from the Department of Police and Public Safety. We are deeply grateful for her outstanding contributions and commitment to keeping UMB safe. Please join us in wishing her all the best in this exciting new chapter of her life!

UMB Public Safety by the Numbers: September

Each month, UMB Police and Public Safety provides thousands of valuable services and resources to the communities we serve. In this segment, we highlight the previous month’s data to showcase the work of our employees.

• Average time from Safe Ride request to pickup: 9 minutes, 45 seconds
• Safe Rides given: 2,257
• Building checks: 2,538
• Local business checks: 58
• Garage checks: 686
• Visitors logged: 11,974

Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!

October is home to Fire Prevention Week, but here at UMB, we celebrate it all month long! This year's goal is to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms. Use this checklistto see how you can make your house safer! Follow along on social media (@PoliceUMB) to see what tips Sparky the Fire Dog has in store!

Code Corner: Don’t Block Fire Alarm Notification Devices

Have you participated in a UMB fire drill? If you have, you most likely were alerted about a fire emergency by flashing lights and a loud tone coming from a fire alarm notification device. During an emergency, seconds matter. To ensure that you are alerted quickly, make sure your nearest fire alarm notification device is kept clear from storage.

Learn about additional common code violationsfrom UMB OFM. If you have questions, please reach out to the office directly at firemarshal@umaryland.edu. 

Free Emergency Preparedness Training Available Online

Learn what to do during an emergency, where to find lifesaving equipment, and much more! You can start the training online now or request in-person training by contacting emergencymanagement@umaryland.edu. 

Emergency Preparedness Training is one part of the Preparedness Pro digital credential. Learn more about our series of preparedness trainings at UMB, including Active Assailant, Stop the Bleed, CPR/AED, and Fire Extinguisher training.

October: International Biosafety and Biosecurity Month

October is International Biosafety and Biosecurity Month! This is a time set aside each year for institutions to focus on ethical research, transparency, training, engagement, and the stewardship of biosafety and biosecurity. This year, the UMB community can be proud that the executive director of EVS, Sherry Bohn, PhD, MSL, CBSP, will be sworn in as president of ABSA International, the international association for biosafety and biosecurity.

For more information, visit absa.org/biosafety-biosecurity-month or umaryland.edu/ehs/research-safety/biosafety.