Tennessee State University has announced plans to hire a consultant to review and make recommendations to the campus police department as part of the school's new safety plan.
In a release sent Tuesday, the university said August Washington, a longtime law enforcement expert, will serve as a consultant for 60 days.
“One of my first actions will be to bring in a team of law enforcement professionals to review current policies, procedures, and practices of the TSUPD,” explained Washington.
Washington is chief of police and associate vice chancellor at Vanderbilt University and has previously served as police chief for the University of Tennessee.
TSU said he has 36 years of experience in law enforcement, working in higher education at seven universities.
The announcement comes as part of TSU’s 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan, which was established following a deadly, on-campus shooting in October.
Below is the Tennessee State University 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan:
- Increased visibility of the TSU police force.
- The opening of a new TSU police satellite office in the Floyd Payne Campus Center, near the courtyard area.
- Strict enforcement of the TSU ID policy, requiring students, faculty, and staff to wear IDs at all times.
- The incorporation of a tip hotline, through our Red Flag System, that will allow individuals to report information anonymously. We have also released a mobile TSU safety app to help facilitate this program.
- We are offering cash awards to students as a part of our See Something Say Something campaign.
- The initiation of a Student Safety Patrol staffed by volunteers from male student organizations - which include fraternities, service organizations, and other related campus groups - to accompany individuals across campus.
- More frequent room inspections in campus housing.
- Enhanced surveillance on campus, including cameras and lighting.
- Increased access control on campus through proximity readers.
- The completion of Phase II of the fence project on TSU's campus.
For more information on the plan, visit www.tnstate.edu/safety.
