"Wake Forest University Police Department" Archive

Safety and Security Resources for the WFU Community

A message from Wake Forest University’s Chief of Police Regina Lawson

As Wake Forest begins the academic year, it is a good time to remind our community about University resources related to safety and security:

Wake Alert

  • Wake Alert is the University’s mass notification system for communicating about situations affecting safety and security. In addition, Wake Ready offers considerable information about emergency preparedness, key University contacts and more.

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Categories: Inside WFU

Major Stormer on diversity in law enforcement

Major Derri Stormer, who oversees the support services, strategic initiatives and community engagement division in the Wake Forest University Police Department (UPD), is featured in this Substantial Magazine Q&A on the importance of diversity and inclusion in law enforcement. Headshot of Major Derri Stormer, of the Wake Forest University Police Department, in uniform in front of an American flagThis special issue of Substantial Magazine highlights experts, advocates and thought leaders in the diversity, equity and inclusion space and discusses how diversity shows up in different sectors.

“Representation matters,” said Stormer. “We have to actively work at building relationships with diverse groups.”

Major Stormer joined the Wake Forest UPD in 2016. She leads the UPD’s Citizens Police Academy, which connects the community with campus police and promotes conversations about policing on campus.

She has been awarded the 40 Under 40 Leadership Award from the International Chiefs of Police Association in 2018, and this year, she received the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. “Building the Dream” award.

Categories: Inside WFUStaff News

University Police Department honors communications officers on Facebook, other social media

This week, as part of a national initiative, the Wake Forest University Police Department is honoring all of its telecommunicators/communications officers, meaning those who take phone calls (and electronic messages) coming into the department any time of the day or night, every day of the year.

This week, April 12-18, is observed across the United States as National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.  For a city such as Winston-Salem, it is the men and women who staff the local 911 center who are being recognized.  On the Wake Forest campus, it is the men and women working in the University Police Department’s own communications center being shown appreciation for their efforts to serve the University community 24/7.

One way the University is demonstrating that appreciation is by using the University’s Facebook account to introduce the campus community and others to the people behind the voice that callers hear when they call the department with emergencies and non-emergencies.  The department is also using its Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Young“We want students, faculty and staff to have an opportunity to see the faces of our communications officers and learn a little about them through Facebook,” said Dennette “Dee” Lilly, who leads the communications center. “It’s been a pleasure to see the Facebook posts begin showing up this week.  We have a dedicated team of communications officers.”

Some of the communications officers have been in their jobs for many years.  The first post of the week featured Rodney Gardner, who has been with the department for 17 years, and Diane Henderson, a seven-year department veteran.  As is often the case with the communications center’s staff, each have considerable experience with first-responder agencies.  Gardner has been associated with the South Stokes Fire Department for 46 years and worked at Stokes County’s 911 Center before joining Wake Forest’s police department.  Henderson is a retired K9 officer from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department.

Other communications officers being recognized on Facebook this week include Mark Young, Thomas Harris, Brien James, Jerry Brown, Jennifer Pitts, Nancy Via, Tyler Harrison, Breann Edwards, Brian Wicker, Sonya Hart and Shaun Love.

The department is also honoring Emergency Manager Chauncey Bowers, police Sgt. Craig Bullins and records management coordinator Dawn Watkins, who work closely with the communications center, and Greg Collins, an Information Systems staff member whose responsibilities including providing considerable technical support to the center.  Bowers’ emergency management responsibilities include oversight of the communications center.

By the time the week concludes, Lilly hopes the University community will have a better awareness of the communications officers and the importance of their contributions to the police department and the University community.

Categories: Inside WFUStaff News

Celebrate National Pizza Day this week by attending Pizza with the Police

Pizza with the Police, presented by the University Police Department, will be held on Feb. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Zick’s on Hearn Plaza.

Students, faculty, staff and others are invited.

Feb. 12, 2020 Pizza with the Police flyer

National Pizza Day, an honorary holiday, was observed on Sunday, Feb. 9. This Feb. 12 campus event will be an opportunity to get to know University Police staff over free pizza and a belated celebration of the U.S. observance.

There will be more opportunities this spring to meet University Police staff and voice any questions or concerns. The next UPD event will be held on March 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Zick’s.

Categories: EventsInside WFU

Pizza with the Police to be held Feb. 12 at Zick's

Students, faculty and staff are invited, as always, to the next Pizza with the Police event on Feb. 12 at Zick’s on Hearn Plaza.

It will be an opportunity for all to enjoy free pizza while getting to know University Police staff and bring up any questions or concerns.  The event will be  held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be more such opportunities this spring.  Next scheduled Pizza with the Police events will be held March 5 and April.  They will be held, as usual, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Zick’s.

Categories: Inside WFU

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