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| Vol. 22, No. 23 |
| December 15, 2000 |
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Houston Police Department, TMC Work Together to Enhance Security in the Texas Medical Center Area By RONDA WENDLER Texas Medical Center News
More than 300 employees and students who work and study at the 42 institutions in the Texas Medical Center attended a town meeting on Nov. 29 titled "Your Personal Security in the Texas Medical Center Area." Designed to provide input and gather feedback about issues of concern regarding personal security in the Texas Medical Center, the meeting featured guest speakers C.O. Bradford, Houston Police Department Chief; Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, physician in chief of Texas Children's Hospital and president of Baylor College of Medicine; and Dr. Richard Wainerdi, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center. Security representatives from area universities and law enforcement agencies were also present, including officers and security guards from the Texas Medical Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Rice University, Texas Southern University, and the METRO Police. The meeting sprang from recent security incidents, including the one in which a Baylor College of Medicine student was kidnapped and murdered this fall. The crime occurred within a mile of the Texas Medical Center in an area where more than 550 Baylor students and residents live. This number is actually much larger when factoring in other residents who live in the area, including students, employees and faculty from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas Woman's University, University of Houston School of Pharmacy, Prairie View A&M College of Nursing, and the many hospitals and research institutions located in the Texas Medical Center.
Dr. Richard Wainerdi, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, said that last year, 4.8 million patient visits were paid to the Texas Medical Center. In addition, approximately 56,000 employees, almost 20,000 volunteers, and nearly 17,000 students worked, volunteered and studied at Texas Medical Center institutions. "The Texas Medical Center is as dense as New York City's Wall Street, almost as big as the Chicago Loop, two times as dense as downtown Houston, and three times as dense as the Galleria area," Dr. Wainerdi said. "With this much activity," Dr. Feigin added, "the safety and security of our students and employees is of utmost importance." While this initial meeting was designed to "get the wheels in motion," several suggestions came out of the gathering. First, Chief Bradford suggested that anyone with an interest in learning more about security in the Texas Medical Center area attend a PIP, or Positive Interaction Program meeting hosted by various police substations throughout the city. The substation responsible for the Texas Medical Center is the South Central Division, which can be reached by calling (713) 238-2282. Officer Joe Sanchez is the PIP Coordinator for that division. Meetings are held once a month, and are designed to help citizens become aware of crime incidents in their neighborhoods. Trends and geographic areas that are subject to crime are discussed, and attendees receive a printout detailing crimes that have occurred during the past month. Citizens are encouraged to relay their needs and concerns to officers during the meeting. Second, Chief Bradford informed attendees about a new Houston Police Department program called the "Blue Star Program." Designed to enhance safety in apartment complexes, the program is an HPD certification program in which HPD officers train apartment managers and owners in how to implement crime-reducing measures in their complexes. All apartment complexes that have become certified display a sign in front of the complex that states, "This is an HPD Blue Star facility." HPD will work with student admissions professionals at Texas Medical Center colleges and universities to assist in identifying Blue Star complexes to which students may be referred. Third, the South Main Center Association has agreed to work with HPD in implementing measures to reduce crime in the area included in the association's jurisdiction, which extends from the Museum District to the Astrodome. Fourth, HPD and the Texas Medical Center will enter into discussions regarding how to provide a greater HPD presence on the Texas Medical Center campus. One student noted that the presence of the powder-blue HPD patrol cars is a deterrent to crime. Chief Bradford said the light blue cars are being phased out in favor of white patrol cars, because light blue paint is significantly more expensive than white paint. Fifth, Texas Medical Center security will evaluate how escort services can be more effectively provided to employees and students who work after dark at TMC institutions and need security escorts to their cars. A program utilizing taxi services is being developed now. In conclusion, Dr. Wainerdi complimented the prompt and thorough response received from the Houston Police Department to the Texas Medical Center's request for assistance in enhancing security, and said much had been accomplished in this meeting. "We could not have asked for more cooperation from the Houston Police Department in this effort. This is only the beginning of a commitment to work cooperatively in assuring the security of those who work, study and seek medical treatment in the Texas Medical Center," concluded Dr. Wainerdi.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/12_15_00/page_02.html |
