The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ held a talk story session to broaden the relationships among lawmakers and the university community. The topics for the second UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Talk Story event focused on criminal justice and public safety.

The UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Talk Story, spearheaded by the , was held on April 9, at the Capitol Modern.

Faculty members from the William S. Richardson School of Law, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health and the Center on the Family and the departments of sociology and psychology participated. They met with the chairs of the public safety and judiciary committees from both chambers and other state legislators.

Sharing their expertise and vision members of the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus and lawmakers discussed their concerns and also talked about easy fixes that can be quickly implemented.

“UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ has expertise that we can provide as a resource in areas where our community can benefit beyond the classroom and lab,” UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno said. “When we work together our state gets stronger. We each bring our own skills and knowledge to the table.”

• Related: State lawmakers get insights about how UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is innovating

The UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Talk Story series provides opportunities for members of the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus and policymakers to discuss and share concerns on matters impacting the State of Â鶹´«Ã½. Lawmakers also get a chance to meet UH experts doing policy-related research in various fields.

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is on a mission to build bridges between education and policy in an effort to work hand-in-hand for the betterment of Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (DPS) collected a record number of new toys donated by campus employees, students, and community members for the Toys for Tots drive this year.

Officers collected items throughout November and early December. This year’s drive marks DPS’ third year of collecting Toys for Tots at UH Mānoa. During this year’s donation period, DPS collected hundreds of toys, filling nine large crates and making this their most successful drive to date.

“We are always grateful for the support shown by the community in collecting gifts during our Toys for Tots drive, and we truly appreciate everyone who donated,” said DPS Chief Andrew Black.

Toys were collected in a variety of ways this year. Some departments set up smaller donation centers and later brought their contributions to DPS. DPS also picked up donations from on-campus locations.

The high volume of donations shows that charity is alive and well at UH Mānoa. DPS is grateful to all who contributed to this year’s toy drive.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (DPS) is kicking off the school year with a variety of free online safety workshops to help students and employees stay safe on campus. These training sessions include Active Shooter Awareness and Response, Hurricane Preparedness, and Conflict Resolution and De-escalation training.

Training sessions

• Active Shooter Awareness and Response (75 min): Provides information on various active shooter scenarios, what you can do to keep yourself safe, and what to expect when police and DPS respond. This training uses concepts from the Department of Homeland Security’s Run-Hide-Fight program.
• Hurricane Preparedness (75 min): Learn about how to prepare for a hurricane in Â鶹´«Ã½, including tips for preparing an emergency kit, what to do when a hurricane is approaching, and how to find a local shelter or shelter-in-place.
• Conflict Resolution and De-escalation (75 minutes): Learn about precipitating factors to conflict, signs of agitation, and discuss verbal and nonverbal de-escalation techniques. In addition, we discuss how to end the de-escalation process, and what to do when de-escalation isn’t possible. Recommended for faculty and staff.
• Safety and Wellness (1 hour): Learn about services offered by DPS, discuss safety tips for both on and off-campus, learn about common crime prevention measures that can be taken to increase safety on campus, and engage with DPS staff to have your safety questions answered.

To view dates and times, or register for a session, please visit the . All training sessions listed above are provided to any group by request. You can request a session through the Workshops and Training Sessions page.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) hosted its first-ever Toys for Tots collection site throughout November and early December to a massive show of aloha.

The response was overwhelming, and DPS announced that several hundred toys were donated by faculty, staff and students. The collection far surpassed expectations, as DPS leaders had been concerned that donations might be limited due to the challenges presented by COVID-19.

During this year’s collection, DPS offered a contactless pickup option, in which donors could schedule a time for DPS to pick up toy donations from the person’s on-campus office or building. This proved to be a popular option for those who weren’t able to drop off items in person. Some donors opted to order toys online and have them mailed directly to DPS. The university was able to fill more than seven large boxes with a variety of toys for children of all ages.

“The giving spirit is truly alive at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa, and DPS and Toys for Tots would like to extend a huge mahalo to all who contributed this year in making this holiday season brighter for children in need,” said DPS Chief Andy Black.

Toys for Tots is a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps, who coordinated all collection sites on Oʻahu.

has been recognized for its outstanding compliance with a law covering sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes, earning the National Clery Compliance Program of the Year Award from the on July 24.

The Jeanne Clery Act is a complex and ever-evolving federal consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. This law requires institutions to maintain policies relating to the Violence Against Women Act, Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and Higher Education Opportunity Act.

To maintain current Clery Act compliance, UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ departments accurately report crime statistics and policy statements for inclusion in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, train certain students and employees as “campus security authorities,” and issue emergency and timely warning notifications. The UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ campus’ efforts have ensured the safety for all students, faculty, staff and visitors.

“This national recognition of our Department of Public Safety is a remarkable testament to the exemplary efforts and cooperative work of many to make UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ a safer place for learning,” said UH President David Lassner. “Special thanks to Clery Compliance Officer Sarah Rice and Chief (Andrew) Black for working with the entire DPS team and the campus to focus on continuous improvement toward safety for all.”

Contributing UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ departments and programs include:

• (DPS)
• University Health Services ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹
• Office of Human Resources
• Academic departments

Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers are being hailed heroes after resuscitating a 78-year-old woman at a UH men’s volleyball game in early January. According to DPS, ushers at Stan Sheriff Center alerted officers that the victim collapsed. Officers Steve Miller and Bryne Nagata discovered the woman had no pulse and immediately began CPR. Shortly after, Officer Jann Dela Cruz administered an automated external defibrillator (AED) until paramedics and firefighters arrived.

“We are always prepared and ready for something like this,” said Officer Nagata. He has worked with DPS for six years and also serves as a certified First Aid/CPR/AED instructor at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹.

“While we hope that we never have to use these skills, we have the training and experience to handle emergency incidents. This was a team effort, and I am thankful for all DPS and arena staff who supported our efforts that night,” Nagata said.

The woman has since been released from the hospital after being taken there in serious condition after the incident.

“The clear thinking of these security officers during this medical emergency, allowed them to put their training into action. Their efficient and timely response resulted in a life being saved. On behalf of the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, we commend Officers Steve Miller, Bryne Nagata and Jann Dela Cruz for being the critical link in the chain of survival,” said a Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman.

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ implemented AEDs on campus in 2011.

DPS offers First Aid/CPR/AED courses to students and employees. To learn more visit: .

A team of assessors for the , Inc. (CALEA®) will arrive on Tuesday, December 11 to examine all aspects of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. Verification by the team that DPS meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation—a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence. As part of the assessment, students, employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Tuesday, December 11 at 2 p.m. The session will be conducted at Hemenway Hall 211, on the UH Mānoa campus.

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. Students, employees and members of the public may call (808) 956-4361 on Tuesday, December 11 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety. Please contact Daniel Tuttle at (808) 956-9802 for more information.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA®), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

UH Mānoa DPS must comply with 293 standards in order to gain accredited status. Said Chief Andrew Black, “We have been working towards accreditation for several years, strengthening department policies and heightening our standards. This has truly been a department-wide effort and we are looking forward to achieving this standard of excellence within our industry.”

Accreditation lasts four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.

About UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety

UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety is a unit of Campus Services, under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance, and Operations. The department operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, to patrol and respond to reports of crime or suspicious activity on UH Mānoa’s campus. DPS also offers a variety of crime prevention and awareness programs, which are available through the department’s Community Policing Unit. Additional services include a campus safety escort service, emergency call boxes, emergency management and response and more. For information, please visit the .

The is dedicated to providing and promoting a safe and secure campus, and serving the community with aloha. In 2017, two national safety organizations named UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ one of the top 100 safest campuses in the country.

As members of the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ community, safety is shared responsibility. DPS is proud to announce the release of an informational video entitled, Safety at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. The video provides safety information and tips for students, staff, faculty and visitors. The campus community is encouraged to view the video to learn how they can protect themselves and their personal property on campus.

• Related: UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ earns top safety ranking by CollegeStats.org, May 4, 2017
  ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Guardian mobile app promotes campus safety, April 29, 2015

Follow DPS on and for safety tips and regular updates from their department.

The has been selected as one of the nation’s top schools with the best campus safety resources. is a compilation of the largest U.S. universities, which are then ranked based on accessibility of safety resources and engagement on social media platforms. According to , UH Mānoa ranks seventh overall in a listing of the 113 most-attended universities across the nation.

Universities were ranked on the availability and accessibility of the institution’s safety information such as emergency phone numbers, safety tips, crime statistics and reports, and sexual assault procedures. Universities were also ranked according to their respective departments of public safety’s presence on social media platforms such as Twitter.

The top 50 selected schools had UH Mānoa ranking in the top ten with a score of 9.64. The number one school on the list, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, had a score of 11.35.

UH Mānoa redesigned its website in 2016 to create more accessible, easy-to-use links and information. The website features a variety of resources and information for the campus, including:

• , including active shooter awareness and response, first aid/CPR/AED, safety and wellness and hurricane preparedness.
• , available in five languages.
• A downloadable (PDF), which provides a quick reference for emergency preparedness in a variety of emergency scenarios.
• Information and download links for a campus safety app, , which gives the user the ability to call or text Department of Public Safety (DPS), or use a safety timer feature as a virtual security escort.

The department continues to add new content based on the needs and feedback of the community. Said DPS Chief Randy West, “It is an honor to be recognized for excellence. We pride ourselves on our transparency, accessibility, and collaboration within our community, and our partnerships with the people we serve that make UH Mānoa a safe place to work, learn and live.” For all of these resources and more, please visit the .

More about the CollegeStats.org ranking process

CollegeStats.org reviewed 113 U.S. colleges and universities (the 100 most attended, plus the largest institution in every state not already represented) and analyzed the accessibility and usability of each school’s safety information resources using pre-established criteria. Both online and offline resources, as well as social media platforms, were examined, and each school was contacted to inquire about safety resources that might not be readily apparent to a student.

The presented Certificates of Commendation to University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa public safety officers and a student at a ceremony on November 17, 2016. The Honolulu Fire Department awards a certificate of commendation to those who have subjected themselves to personal risk by performing exceptional acts of service or bravery.

The certificates were presented to UH Mānoa’s Sergeant Bridget Evangelista-Gouveia, Officers Savannah Alpuro and Irenio San Nicolas and student Jan Kealoha who rescued a visiting researcher who was injured and trapped by a laboratory accident that occurred at the UH Mānoa campus on March 16, 2016,

• Related: , July 1, 2016