- A cover page with your name, project title, course, and date submitted.
- An introductory section that explains the purpose of the paper; provides a brief summary of the facility being reviewed; and details the crime prevention and security measures currently in place.
- Your overview of the security issues that will be addressed in your security plan, which meets the requirements above.
- A reference page in which you reference the text and other sources, properly documented and cited.
Final Project
Students will read the scenario described below and will design a comprehensive security plan for the Maryland Public Safety Education and Training Center that, at a minimum, identifies the facility assets requiring protection, the criticality of those assets, the various threats directed at the assets and the probability of loss. The training facility is located at 6852 4th St, Sykesville, MD 21784-74332.
The security plan will consist of a 10 to 12 page (cover page and reference page not included in page count) written report that addresses the issues and problems listed. References must include the text and at least three (3) external scholarly sources that support the points made in the report. Your critique should detail which parts of the plan are good, which need improvement and which will not work and need to be totally rewritten. The critique should be made according to the concepts learned in class and in the textbook as well as your own research.
Students will address the following general topic areas:
- Physical plant intrusion (e.g., burglary)
- Property damage, interior and exterior (e.g., vandalism, theft, etc.)
- Personal security (e.g., assault, personal property loss/damage, etc.)
- Information/records security
- Emergency planning and response
- OSHA standards and violations
- Hiring practices
- Training practices
- Legal issues unique to the site
- Recommended policies and procedures (topics only)
NOTE: The student should identify any issue not reflected in the descriptive information provided which may have a bearing on security design. The student should then proceed with the plan considering separately both the positive and negative response to the issue.
Example: Does the crime lab maintain controlled/dangerous substances for the purposes of sample testing?
If yes, then…………
If no, then………..
Fact Scenario: The Maryland Public Safety Education and Training Center is located in Sykesville, Maryland. (http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/aboutdpscs/pct/index.shtml) It is operated under the auspices of the Maryland Police and Correctional Training commissions, a division of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The physical plant is generally divided into two areas on grounds totaling approximately 700 acres.
The Firearms Training Facility (FTF) and the Drivers Training Facility (DTF) are co-located approximately 2 miles from the Academic Center. These skill training areas are surrounded by un-fenced open pasture owned by the Department, traversed by a public roadway and tangent to several residential communities…the nearest houses being approximately .25 miles from any facility structures. Training vehicles, fuel and other automotive supplies are maintained at the DTF repair garage.
The facility itself includes staff offices, classrooms and several computer-based driving simulator stations. The FTF facility also includes staff offices, classrooms, an armory, weapon cleaning area with solvent storage and several computer-based shooting simulation stations. There is no indoor range. The outdoor ranges are approximately .25 miles from the FTF building and consist of 4 pistol ranges and one rifle range, all with self contained bullet traps.
The Academic and Administrative Complex (AAC) is located on the grounds of the Maryland Springfield State (Mental) Hospital, operated by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The hospital hosts approximately 400 residential patients currently diagnosed as dangerous to themselves and/or others. The AAC is located on the southern-most edge of the hospital grounds. By mutual agreement, no fencing separates the AAC from the hospital buildings, the closest of which is approximately 100 yards from the AAC.
The AAC includes offices and classrooms, several computer labs, a food preparation area and dining hall, a graphic arts and video broadcasting studio, and maintenance shops. Tangent to the AAC main building are two residential dorms for overnight guests/students as well as a separate a physical training center. The PT center includes offices, classrooms, a standard basketball gym, weight training areas and a swimming pool.
The outside grounds include a running track and obstacle course. Public highways and hospital roadways surround the AAC and PC center. The 122 staff members of the PSETC, including DTF and FTF, are civilian State employees, ranging from Executive Director to Maintenance Technician. There are currently no security positions in the table of organization. Because the PSETC has an independent personnel system, it is not restricted to or bound by standard state/governmental hiring practices. The operating hours for all of the facilities at the PSETC are generally 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, exclusive of traditional holidays. There is no staff presence during non-business hours.
The PSETC averages 450 students daily in law enforcement and correctional training programs. While overnight stays average approximately 150 guests/students, on-site housing can accommodate approximately 250 persons. On-site food preparation and sale is performed by a contractor who collects vouchers or cash for meals. Most PSETC services are paid by voucher although cash may be suitable in some circumstances. Students and visitors to the Center may be civilians or armed, sworn police officers.
The records maintenance of the PCTC at the Center includes administrative reports and correspondence as well as the certification records for every public law enforcement and correctional officer in Maryland – – approximately 30,000 personnel. Certification records include the name. SSA number, DOB, background summary and training information for all currently certified and previously certified personnel – over 200,000 records.
Janitorial services inside the PSETC buildings and landscaping services are performed by a contingent of minimum security inmates from a local correctional institution. Inmates work under the supervision of a correctional officer. Other maintenance services are performed by PSETC staff or outside contractors.
Springfield Hospital has a small security force which patrols the hospital grounds and responds to calls for assistance from hospital staff in hospital buildings. The small Sykesville police force is responsible for 911 responses to the PSETC.
The Police and Correctional Training Commission is a publicly funded agency of the State of Maryland. As such, its budget is limited. Any comprehensive security must consider the least expensive strategy that effectively and efficiently addresses the identified need.
Note: Students should utilize all available resources to identify the boundary lines of the training facility (Google Earth, interviews with individuals with appropriate knowledge, personal observation, etc.), the various training buildings and appendages, and the surrounding community to better assess the security needs. Drawings and/or photographs of the area are excellent ways to enhance your submission and to provide a frame of reference when discussing your findings.
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