Meet SAIT’s Peace Officers on patrol

^{SAIT community Peace Officers, Dale Gorrill (left) and Chris Griffin (right)}

SAIT’s community Peace Officers cover a lot of ground in a day — you’ve probably seen them around main campus or patrolling the Art Smith Aero Centre, SAIT Downtown or even the new Imperial Energy Innovation Centre.

Chris Griffin has been a fixture at SAIT for more than six years. Following a 35-year career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), he came to campus to launch the Peace Officer program.

“After retiring from the RCMP, I wasn’t ready to quit working,” says Griffin. “I was made for public safety and police work.”

Just over a year ago, he was joined by Dale Gorrill. Gorrill retired as a sergeant from the Calgary Police Service after 29 years shortly before coming to SAIT. Like Griffin, he wasn’t ready to stop working and found his perfect fit #HereAtSAIT.

“Everyone at SAIT has a positive attitude,” he says. “The faculty and staff are friendly, the students are excellent and my colleagues are good people to work with — that makes the work enjoyable.”

Keeping the peace 🤝 

Peace Officers bridge the gap between uniformed Campus Security guards — who provide routine security response and services on campus — and a full-time police service. They’re SAIT’s direct connection to local emergency services, including the Calgary Police Service, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department.

Appointed by the Solicitor General, Peace Officers have specific authorities granted by the province. Although they don’t investigate criminal offences, they do respond to criminal activity reports and are authorized to enforce several provincial statutes on SAIT grounds, including the Trespass Act, Traffic Safety Act, and Gaming and Liquor Act.

“We monitor all calls that go through Campus Security and work in concert with Campus Security guards,” says Gorrill. “Although Chris and I both come from a law enforcement background, our priority at SAIT is education and prevention.”

“Looking for patterns and trends to take a proactive approach to security is a unique part of our role,” adds Griffin. “We work with every SAIT school and department doing risk assessments, making recommendations and addressing security concerns.”

SAIT’s Peace Officers also share information with other post-secondary institutions, interact with all levels of outside law enforcement and, in some instances, make referrals to community support agencies.

“We’re always looking for strategies to make SAIT a safer place,” says Griffin.

Everyday safety tips 🤝

Campus Security is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide emergency and non-emergency assistance. 

“If anyone at SAIT has a security concern, we want to hear about it,” says Gorrill.

For all on-campus emergencies, call Campus Security at 403.284.8000. In the event of an immediate life or death emergency, call 911. Not an emergency? Call 403.284.8530.

There are also resources and strategies every member of the SAIT community can use to be proactive about safety on campus.

Download the SAITALERT app📱

This free smartphone app provides easy access to emergency information. You can chat with Campus Security and report a security tip or safety hazard through SAITALERT. Plus, if there’s an emergency on campus, you’ll receive an alert through the app. Get to know some of the features below and download SAITALERT.

• Mobile blue light 🆘 Triggering the mobile blue light — think of it as a mobile help button — SAITALERT will send your location and place a call to Campus Security.
• Friend walk and virtual walk home 🚶Use the friend walk feature to send your location to a friend and the virtual walk home feature to send it to Campus Security. Once initiated, your friend/Campus Security will be able to track your walk in real-time until you reach your destination.
• Check in when you’re working alone📍 The work alone feature on SAITALERT checks in on you when you’re working alone and can automatically trigger a call to security if you fail to check in at a designated time. Tip: Remember to check out when you leave so the system doesn't continue to check on you.
• Connect to support services 💜SAITALERT features links to counselling services, sexual assault and violence support, crisis support, and the Health Services Clinic.

Download SAITALERT

Help reduce crimes of opportunity 🔒

College campuses the size of SAIT are unfortunately ideal targets for crimes of opportunity, says Griffin.

When it’s cold outside, trespassers will often check every door handle looking for access inside. Nice weather brings more cyclists to campus and that means more bike thefts. Unattended property is a security risk any time of year, he adds.

“With winter on the way, make sure doors are closing and latching behind you and don’t prop doors open. Always lock your car doors and don’t leave valuables in your car.”

“Unattended laptops and bags are a constant security battle,” says Gorrill. “If you’re going to step away from your stuff in a public space, have someone watch it. If you can’t, take it with you. Two minutes is all it takes for someone to grab it.”

See something, say something 💙

Ultimately, when it comes to safety on campus or online, if you feel something isn’t right, trust your intuition.

“SAIT people are our eyes and ears — if you’re concerned, it’s always worth reporting,” says Griffin. “We’d rather have a call that turns out to be nothing than not have the call.”

Contact Campus Security

24 hours/day 7 days a week
Q100, Eugene Coste building, SAIT Main Campus
Emergency: 403.284.8000 | Urgent threat: 911
Non-emergency: 403.284.8530
campus.security@sait.ca

Campus Security