Getting to Know Chatham Chief of Police, Donna Grossi
Did you know that Chatham’s Chief of Police is Police Officer, Donna Grossi? In her relatively new position, Donna serves our campus community by helping to keep us safe, interfacing with key stakeholders on campus, and ensuring that our Office of Public Safety runs smoothly. In this quick get-to-know-you questionnaire, Donna gives us insight into who she is and what her goals are for campus safety at Chatham. Read on to get know this vital member of our campus—
Chatham Chief of Police, Donna Grossi
Hometown: Aliquippa, PA
Hobbies: Yoga, meditation, physical fitness, and spending time with my family
Why Law Enforcement: I hoped to serve as a point of positive interaction between law enforcement and the communities I served.
ON THE HORIZON FOR CHATHAM PUBLIC SAFETY—
Donna Grossi: Currently, I’m spending time meeting with different organizations on campus to shine some light on who we are, what we do, and how we can assist. Being new to my position, I’m investing a lot of time in familiarizing myself with different processes so I can identify areas needing improvement. Some of my focuses now are evaluating overall campus safety, receiving feedback from students and other departments, streamlining certain parking processes, and making improvements in identified areas.
HOW TO IDENTIFY CHATHAM SECURITY GUARDS VS. CHATHAM POLICE OFFICERS—
DG: Law Enforcement is experiencing a staffing shortage on a national level. Security guards were recently added to the Public Safety team to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears to the police department and to contribute to the overall safety of the campus. Our security guards are being trained by the police staff to identify issues and concerns on campus, and to promptly report them. The guards will have radio communications with on-duty police, who can respond immediately if an emergency is identified.
Key Differences: The police officers on campus have all obtained Act 120 certification, which would require completion of police academy training. Our police are armed and have training standards relating to firearms and police operations. Their dark blue uniforms, which include a badge, identify them as police. The unarmed guards all have prior security work experience, and will also be uniformed, but in grey shirts and black pants. The back panel of their uniform will identify them as security, and they will not wear a badge.
Police officers will continue to be on-duty 24/7/365, now with the support of security. The guards are an extension of the police team so either would be acceptable for contact. If a matter is above the scope of what a guard is able to assist with, they are in direct connection with on-duty police by radio and phone. 412-365-1230 (non-emergency) and 412-365-1111 (emergency) are the best ways to contact our department for assistance.
HOW TO HELP KEEP OUR CAMPUS SAFE—
DG: Each member of the Chatham community has the ability to contribute to the overall safety of the campus. Staff, faculty, and students far outnumber the police staff. We rely on personal experiences and timely reports for information when our operations need to be focused. If you see something, please say something. Vigilance, reporting, and consistency are key.
MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT CHATHAM PUBLIC SAFETY—
DG: We have a really great team of dedicated individuals who work hard to keep the community safe. I’m very proud of the department we have.
You can learn more about Public Safety at Chatham University by visiting our website. As Donna mentioned above, 412-365-1230 (non-emergency) and 412-365-1111 (emergency) are the best ways to contact the Office of Public Safety for assistance.
