W&L’s Public Safety Department Shines
Washington and Lee University’s Public Safety department was recognized at the Virginia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (VACLEA) summer conference in Virginia Beach, Va.
Not only was one member of the department, Steve Tomlinson, elected president of the organization, but awards were given to Mike Young, director of public safety and Jamie Brown, public safety officer.
Tomlinson is associate director of public safety at W&L. He will serve as president of the statewide organization for 2009-2010. He was vice president last year. He joined W&L in 1983 and was promoted to associate director of public safety in 2001.
Young, director of public safety who has been with W&L since 1991, received the Robert C. Dillard Award for Outstanding Contributions to Campus Law Enforcement.
For the past few years, Young has been working on the training and certification process mandated by the Virginia legislature for all campus security officers. It will begin this summer and Young will be one of the primary instructors.
The certification of campus security officers statewide is a major step in providing better protection to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to college campuses throughout the Commonwealth. “Apparently, the board of directors of VACLEA felt that was significant. I am very proud to have received this award from my peers,” said Young.
Brown, public safety officer, received the Award for Valor for his heroic actions taken on March 12 during a fire at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house that resulted in saving a student’s life. He has been with W&L since 2008.
Dawn Watkins, vice president and dean of students, said, “Safety and security on college campuses is frequently questioned. The public safety staff at W&L, from the leadership to the officers ‘on the ground,’ practices the tried and true method of knowing our students and the campus. I appreciate that the VACLEA recognizes the importance of knowing the individual in supporting the total environment.”
VACLEA is the professional voice for all public and private campus law enforcement and security departments in Virginia.
