Brockport scare raises questions about security
By Crozier, Patrick
Last Updated:6:07 PM EST 1/27/10 Section: News
As Winter Break drew to a close, students at SUNY Brockport received the chilling information on Jan. 8 that their campus had been locked down due to a security threat in the nearby area.
As it is now known, this threat was generated by Brockport local Scott Pescara who, following an incident at his home, situated nearby the college, alledgedly began erratically firing a loaded gun without any sense of direction.
While Pescara would surrender later that day, he would not do so before allegedly wounding two individuals, an elderly neighbor and a Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy.
While no students at SUNY Brockport were injured, the incident generated a great deal of attention to the college's security response system. With a traumatic event such as the Pescara incident this close to a college, much less one that is nearby, Fisher students may wonder what their own college's security response plan would be, and if it would be effective if a similar situation erupted on campus.
Similar to SUNY Brockport's own SUNY NY-Alert system, Fisher's Everbridge system aims to inform students of breaking security notices and alerts.
By signing up for the system, Fisher students are able to receive these messages via emergency calls sent to their phones, emails, or text messages, depending on the user's preferences.
No matter what the choice of preferred notification means, the delivered message would give the recipient information on the threat and instructions as to what actions should be taken. For safety precaution, the message would continued to be sent to the user until the recipient sent notice back that the message had been received.
While Fisher's security program is similar to SUNY NY-Alert, which also offers emergency updates through text messages and emails, would Fisher, if placed in a situation similar to Brockport on January 8, stay secure?
"I think we're well-tuned to respond to those kinds of situations," said Director of Safety and Security Mike McCarthy. "We do respond to emergency situations routinely, so I think the staff has a sense of how an emergency, whatever it is… We're well-poised
to respond."
In the event of a situation similar to that of Brockport occurring near Fisher, says McCarthy, the College would work with local authorities to assess and implement the appropriate response to the threat in question, including making use of the Everbridge system and other assets on campus to direct students away from danger.
McCarthy strongly encourages students and faculty to sign up for the emergency messaging service.
"It's not required…," McCarthy says, (but) "I just think (signing up is) a good thing that people can do…in case a situation does occur…"
Notifications for sign up opportunities will be sent via email this upcoming semester for faculty and staff.
pjc04539@sjfc.edu
As it is now known, this threat was generated by Brockport local Scott Pescara who, following an incident at his home, situated nearby the college, alledgedly began erratically firing a loaded gun without any sense of direction.
While Pescara would surrender later that day, he would not do so before allegedly wounding two individuals, an elderly neighbor and a Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy.
While no students at SUNY Brockport were injured, the incident generated a great deal of attention to the college's security response system. With a traumatic event such as the Pescara incident this close to a college, much less one that is nearby, Fisher students may wonder what their own college's security response plan would be, and if it would be effective if a similar situation erupted on campus.
Similar to SUNY Brockport's own SUNY NY-Alert system, Fisher's Everbridge system aims to inform students of breaking security notices and alerts.
By signing up for the system, Fisher students are able to receive these messages via emergency calls sent to their phones, emails, or text messages, depending on the user's preferences.
No matter what the choice of preferred notification means, the delivered message would give the recipient information on the threat and instructions as to what actions should be taken. For safety precaution, the message would continued to be sent to the user until the recipient sent notice back that the message had been received.
While Fisher's security program is similar to SUNY NY-Alert, which also offers emergency updates through text messages and emails, would Fisher, if placed in a situation similar to Brockport on January 8, stay secure?
"I think we're well-tuned to respond to those kinds of situations," said Director of Safety and Security Mike McCarthy. "We do respond to emergency situations routinely, so I think the staff has a sense of how an emergency, whatever it is… We're well-poised
to respond."
In the event of a situation similar to that of Brockport occurring near Fisher, says McCarthy, the College would work with local authorities to assess and implement the appropriate response to the threat in question, including making use of the Everbridge system and other assets on campus to direct students away from danger.
McCarthy strongly encourages students and faculty to sign up for the emergency messaging service.
"It's not required…," McCarthy says, (but) "I just think (signing up is) a good thing that people can do…in case a situation does occur…"
Notifications for sign up opportunities will be sent via email this upcoming semester for faculty and staff.
pjc04539@sjfc.edu
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