Task force releases campus security recommendations

COLUMBIA — A state task force established in the wake of the shootings at Virginia Tech has released its recommendations to improve safety on Missouri’s college campuses.

The recommendations include appointing a person at every campus to coordinate emergency and homeland security operations and providing emergency procedure training to all students, faculty and staff.

Gov. Matt Blunt created the task force in April, days after a student opened fire at Virginia Tech, killing 32 people. Since then, the group has evaluated the emergency response plans in higher education institutions throughout Missouri.

The task force, composed of school administrators, law enforcment officers, first-responders and security experts, also recommended campuses offer full-time access to on-campus, licensed mental health services to all students, faculty and staff; form a higher education subcommittee of Missouri’s Homeland Security Advisory Council; and create an all-hazard emergency response plan developed with the help of local first-responders.

To see the full report, visit dps.mo.gov/CampusSafety/index.htm.