McMaster University Security Service
| McMaster University Security Service | |
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Patch of McMaster University Security Service | |
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Badge of McMaster University Security Service | |
| Agency overview | |
| Legal personality | Non government: McMaster University |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
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| Operational structure | |
| Sworn members | 20 Special Constables |
| Website | |
| http://security.mcmaster.ca | |
McMaster University Security Service employs Special Constables in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Special Constables are not police officers as stated in section 53 of the Police Services Act of Ontario. However Special Constables do hold the authority of a police officer when working within their approved area or boundaries.
McMaster University employs 20 Special Constables who are sworn Peace Officers and possess all the power of a municipal police officer. The Constables are sworn in through the Hamilton Police Services Board, after being approved by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
The department also employs a number of civilians including dispatchers and administrative support personnel. In the spring of 2005, McMaster Security (Special Constable) Services merged with the Parking Services Department to streamline costs.
McMaster Special Constables are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are supervised by Sergeants, an Operations Manager (Staff Sergeant) as well as a Director, all are Peace Officers as well. McMaster Officers do not carry a firearm. McMaster University is one of only two universities in Ontario where special constables carry both an expandable baton and pepper spray for both their safety and the public's protection.
McMaster Constables Patrol the 300 acre (121 hectare) campus year-round by foot, bicycle and vehicle.
McMaster Constables are responsible for the preservation of life and property of the 30,000 full and part-time students and the University's 56 buildings, with two new large construction projects underway. McMaster Constables enforce federal, provincial, and municipal statutes on campus as well as liaising with local police, fire, and Ambulance agencies.
McMaster Constables also liaise with many on campus services that deal with safety and the wellbeing of students, such as the Emergency First Response Team, and the Student Walk Home Attendant Team. Responsibility for liaising with these student run services falls under the umbrella of the Crime Prevention Office, which is staffed by a Sergeant, two Constables, and during the summer employs a summer student. Many crime prevention programs such as information seminars and displays, as well as safety and security audits are conducted by the crime prevention office.
The lost and found is currently maintained by the department as well. Throughout the campus, there are thousands of alarm points ranging from intrusion, fire alarm, panic and environmental alarms. There are also several hundred Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on campus. These are monitored at all times by the dispatchers.
On campus, they are known by many students affectionately as 'Mac Five-O' which originates back from when students used to play the Hawaii 5-0 theme song to officers as they patrolled the quads.
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