Spring Break
Cincinnati's Ferrara brought in to assess Drexel Public Safety
By: Noah Cohen
Issue date: 8/10/07 Section: News
Originally published: 8/10/07 at 3:52 AM EST
Last update: 8/10/07 at 3:51 AM EST
Originally published: 8/10/07 at 3:52 AM EST
Last update: 8/10/07 at 3:51 AM EST
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Drexel has selected University of Cincinnati public safety director Gene Ferrara as a consultant to evaluate the University's own public safety department.
Ferrara was hired in mid-June this year and the cost of his services has been less than $4,000, according to Senior Vice President Jim Tucker.
Among the reasons Tucker gave for hiring Ferrara was his prior experience working with Tucker at the University of Cincinnati.
"I have had the pleasure to work with Gene for 30 years at the University of Cincinnati where he is the Director of Public Safety. He has more than 45 years of professional experience in public safety operations in both higher education and law enforcement," Tucker wrote in an e-mail.
Ferrara continues to hold his position in as director of public safety at UC while consulting for Drexel.
In his position at UC, Ferrara is responsible for oversight of the four divisions within public safety including University Police, Emergency Preparedness, Parking Services, and Support Services, according to a UC website.
Unlike Drexel, UC maintains a sworn armed police force with arrest powers as well as an Office of Emergency Preparedness.
Tucker said that Ferrara will be reviewing "all operations of the department" and said he would "act appropriately" when Ferrara's final report is issued.
Ferrara's Cincinnati stomping ground is no stranger to serious crimes.
A report by the Police Executive Research Forum included Cincinnati in a list of cities experiencing a more than 30 percent increase in assaults involving guns.
Eleven thousand nine hundred sixty-three total "part one" serious crimes were reported in Cincinnati between January and June of 2007 according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
As Ferrara works on his evaluation of Drexel's public safety, the search to fill the spot vacated by Ben Gollotti for senior vice president for Public Safety continues.
As of July 24, 51 people have applied for the position and the search committee has narrowed down the candidates to 15 individuals, according to James Katsaounis, executive director of communications for Student Life.
Katsaounis said that "open interviews" with students, faculty and staff would be held once the list is further narrowed down.
Tucker said he is "looking forward to the input received from the open interviews."
Law enforcement experience is a significant aspect of the search.
"The committee is looking for candidates with extensive experience in law enforcement at the senior administration level with work experience in a higher education environment being preferred," Tucker said.
The job description posted on Drexeljobs.com lists:
"A minimum of ten years experience preferably in higher education environment," as well as "extensive knowledge of the Pennsylvania Crime Codes, the Victims Compensation Act, College/University related acts and laws."
Drexeljobs.com lists a recruiting salary of $110,000 to $150,000.
Ferrara was hired in mid-June this year and the cost of his services has been less than $4,000, according to Senior Vice President Jim Tucker.
Among the reasons Tucker gave for hiring Ferrara was his prior experience working with Tucker at the University of Cincinnati.
"I have had the pleasure to work with Gene for 30 years at the University of Cincinnati where he is the Director of Public Safety. He has more than 45 years of professional experience in public safety operations in both higher education and law enforcement," Tucker wrote in an e-mail.
Ferrara continues to hold his position in as director of public safety at UC while consulting for Drexel.
In his position at UC, Ferrara is responsible for oversight of the four divisions within public safety including University Police, Emergency Preparedness, Parking Services, and Support Services, according to a UC website.
Unlike Drexel, UC maintains a sworn armed police force with arrest powers as well as an Office of Emergency Preparedness.
Tucker said that Ferrara will be reviewing "all operations of the department" and said he would "act appropriately" when Ferrara's final report is issued.
Ferrara's Cincinnati stomping ground is no stranger to serious crimes.
A report by the Police Executive Research Forum included Cincinnati in a list of cities experiencing a more than 30 percent increase in assaults involving guns.
Eleven thousand nine hundred sixty-three total "part one" serious crimes were reported in Cincinnati between January and June of 2007 according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
As Ferrara works on his evaluation of Drexel's public safety, the search to fill the spot vacated by Ben Gollotti for senior vice president for Public Safety continues.
As of July 24, 51 people have applied for the position and the search committee has narrowed down the candidates to 15 individuals, according to James Katsaounis, executive director of communications for Student Life.
Katsaounis said that "open interviews" with students, faculty and staff would be held once the list is further narrowed down.
Tucker said he is "looking forward to the input received from the open interviews."
Law enforcement experience is a significant aspect of the search.
"The committee is looking for candidates with extensive experience in law enforcement at the senior administration level with work experience in a higher education environment being preferred," Tucker said.
The job description posted on Drexeljobs.com lists:
"A minimum of ten years experience preferably in higher education environment," as well as "extensive knowledge of the Pennsylvania Crime Codes, the Victims Compensation Act, College/University related acts and laws."
Drexeljobs.com lists a recruiting salary of $110,000 to $150,000.
