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SEI employees warn: We're watching you by Cindy A. Abole Public Relations It would have been easy for Teddy Redmon to turn a blind eye and ignore the happenings around her work area at Storm Eye Institute (SEI).  Instead, Redmon chose to do something about it.  It was a year ago when Redmon noticed an increase in people wandering around the service elevator and stairwell areas of SEI. The incident reminded her of  an  e-mail warning MUSC employees of a crime wave of petty thefts. It was through her concern and response that helped activate the university’s first employee-organized crime watch group.  “It wasn’t hard to establish,” Redmon said. “I think it was awareness that made people want to be proactive.” Although Redmon has left the university, her idea lives on. Today, the SEI Crime Watch team meets monthly and discusses concerns, incidents and ideas regarding security issues The group has gradually introduced employee awareness by distributing information brochures and talking about the program. Next, the team plans to erect crime watch signs around areas reminding visitors that they are entering a crime watch zone. “To prevent crime, we need to be aware of our surroundings and know who people are,” Redmon said. “We need to ask questions, be assertive and provide encouragement.”  The team is composed of several area employees, plus other representatives from the university’s security areas. The group includes Storm Eye floor representatives: Zina Pompey, Linda Smith, Deborah Sharer, Kathy Marcey, Maddie Manuel, Mark Guenther, Anne Johnston, Peggy Low, Sharon Maroney and executive director Rick Holmes. Other members include: Paul Moss, hospital security and Sgt. Kellie Neal, public safety crime prevention officer. “Our world today is so different. In some locations, there are work environments that are not safe,” Neal said. “Raising our awareness level is not only a practice to protect ourselves. It’s also to help protect the doctors, other employees and patients who come in and out of our medical center.” Neal is currently working to establish other crime watch programs in other areas of campus including third floor pediatrics at Rutledge Tower and the Gazes Cardiac Research Institute.