Public Safety escort van responds to needs
The Department of Public Safety has announced the services of a new escort courtesy van available on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The van will respond to requests for security escort service throughout MUSC, more specifically within a four block radius of campus.
Patients
Tom Mitchell, far left, and Doris Brown, of West Columbia, accept a ride
from driver James A. Benton, far right, who operates the Department of
Public Safety's new courtesy escort van service to the Howard Johnson Hotel
on Spring Street. Assisting the passengers is Medical Center Security coordinator
Marshall McFadden.
“Providing this brand of service allows us to fulfill our daily mission of helpful support on campus,” said Tom Brown, acting Public Safety chief. “We’re all very proud of finding ways to enhance our level of support that assist our patients, visitors, staff and students within a safe environment.”
Last year, Public Safety reported 13,492 escorts involving patients, visitors and employees throughout campus.
The addition of the new escort van helps to underscore the department’s overall goal of maintaining enhanced community service and providing a safe environment for learning, working and healing.
Persons requesting an escort may do so by calling Public Safety Communications directly. The request will be dispatched by radio to the van operator. In addition, the van provides other support to assist staff, students, patients and visitors with dead car batteries, flat tires or require special assistance for retrieving keys from locked cars. These services are already provided by the Department of Public Safety staff and will continue to be supported by patrol officers during hours when the van is not in operation. The van, painted with the same grey and black markings as other MUSC Public Safety patrol vehicles, is readily identifiable to the public.
“The van provides a ready alternative for patients and their families when they need assistance being escorted from one part of campus to another,” said Paul Moss, Medical Center Security manager. “It’s a service than can be counted on for special situations and most importantly in cases of emergencies, when needed.”
To request service by the Department of Public Safety’s courtesy escort
van or any other police/security assistance, call Public Safety Communications
at 792-4196.