In a powerful display of enduring collaboration, the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) and the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk (ESSR) are celebrating a significant achievement during their 50th anniversary year - the successful conclusion of a 10-year, nearly $3 million federal grant. This partnership highlights a shared commitment to the safety and security of the university community.
A Legacy of Security and Collaboration
Led by UMPD and supported by ESSR, the grant, totaling $2,909,205, was secured from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI). The GTRI program, which protects nuclear and radiological materials at civilian sites, began its partnership with the University of Maryland over ten years ago, with the mission of enhancing the security at Maryland University Training Reactor (MUTR) and the Radiation Facilities in the School of Engineering.
Over the years, the grant funded a comprehensive security program that included:
- State-of-the-art security hardware and technologies - project management and installation lead by UMPD Building Security Systems (BSS)
- Advanced radiation detectors - training and procedures provided by ESSR’s Radiation Safety Office
- In-depth security training - programs both on campus and at federal training facilities with campus partners and other state and federal agencies
- Expert risk assessments to augment preparedness and response programs
Advanced Training and Knowledge Sharing
A key component of the grant was the opportunities for UMD staff and faculty to participate in the Office of Radiological Security's (ORS) Alarm Response Trainings (ART) at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This training brought together a select team of UMPD officers and dispatchers, UMD’s FBI partners, ESSR Radiation Safety staff, and faculty and staff from the MUTR and Radiation Facilities. Together, our teams coordinated and honed tactical skills and developed protocols for responding to incidents involving radioactive materials.
Demonstrating UMD’s excellence, leaders at UMPD brought these advanced techniques back to our campus, by hosting a "Y-12 type" training for all UMD response teams, UMPD, and the MUTR and Radiation Facility faculty, staff and students. This knowledge-sharing initiative significantly augmented the benefits of the grant, creating a ripple effect of preparedness across the campus departments. ESSR’s Radiation Safety staff led site specific radiation safety training to ensure thorough understanding of radiation physics and practical application of advanced radiation detectors for the assurance of safety of all responding personnel.
A Testament to a Shared Mission
This achievement is particularly significant as both UMPD and ESSR celebrate their 50th anniversary. Before 1975, UMPD and ESSR were under one organizational unit; however, for administrative clarity these departments separated. Since then their shared mission for safety and security fostered an enduring partnership.
As Mary Dorman, Executive Director of ESSR, stated, "The partnership with UMPD under the NNSA GTRI program has been a cornerstone of our efforts to ensure the safety of our research community and our campus. It's a perfect example of how our two departments, while distinct, are inextricably linked in our mission to protect the university. Celebrating our 50th anniversaries with this achievement underscores the deep trust and operational synergy we have built over the decades."
This sentiment was echoed by UMPD Chief David Mitchell’s additional remarks, "Our partnership with ESSR spans more than ten years, and together we’ve built a relationship grounded in trust, shared expertise, and a commitment to protecting both people and critical infrastructure. This latest achievement isn’t just a milestone, it’s the continuation of a legacy of teamwork that has kept the campus secure and the university community safe.”
Both departments are proud of their support to the campus and this successful endeavor. By combining UMPD's expertise and leadership in law enforcement and building security, with ESSR's deep knowledge of radiological safety and risk mitigation, they were able to secure the federal funding and implement a robust security framework that has been recognized as exceptional by regulatory agencies and will serve the university for years to come.
Both Department’s success in the Division of Administration, stands as a testament to a powerful collaboration. A perspective shared by both Chief Mitchell and Mary Dorman: “We prioritize protecting our most treasured university assets and creating a secure environment where groundbreaking research can thrive. It is a powerful reminder of the strength found in synergistic partnerships and the university’s unwavering commitment to safety and the advancement of knowledge.”
University of Maryland participants at the NNSA Y-12 Response Training Academy. Participants included MPO Cassandra Chapman (UMPD); Mary Dorman (ESSR); Amber Johnson, Director MUTR & Radiation Facilities; Chase Smith (UMPD); John Hall (UMPD); Major Kenneth Ecker (UMPD); CPL John Hampton (UMPD); Alan Jacobson (ESSR); Lt. Shawn Brown (UMPD); MPO Patrick Dyksra (UMPD); Lt. John Brown (UMPD). Additional class members joined from University of Louisville.