Claflin strengthens safety with new technology, initiatives

Police Chief Melvin Williams addresses Panther reporters on March 26.

Claflin University’s Department of Public Safety is strengthening campus security with new technology and ongoing safety initiatives under Chief Melvin Williams.

Williams spoke to students March 26 about updates to campus security and new technology that has already been implemented and will be introduced soon.

License plate readers have been installed at key access points to monitor vehicles entering the university, allowing public safety to track campus traffic and improve overall safety.

“Our team is here 24/7, 365 days a year,” Williams said. “We want to make sure everyone feels secure while on campus.”

The department plans to extend safety measures with automatic armed gates along Goff Avenue, expected to be completed by August 2026. The project is part of Claflin University initiative to control access along Goff Avenue to Clark Street to enhance campus safety.

“I’ve been assigned to oversee the completion of the Goff Avenue project,” Williams said. “I am calling my first meeting with all stakeholders, individuals involved in planning, approving, and executing this project.”

Students, faculty and staff will be able to enter with ID cards or programmed credentials, while visitors will request access through a video intercom system.

Looking back over the semester, Williams said the department has seen positive results.

“I’m very pleased to say that we’ve been successful, as I can say, God has blessed us, that we have not had any major issues,” he said.

Williams also addressed past security challenges.

“One of the things that we struggled with in our past were individuals from the community coming on campus and breaking into cars,” Williams said. “We increased our patrols in the parking lot during the hours that those things occurred,” he said. 

Funding for these initiatives comes primarily from parking enforcement and fines.

“Parking violations and fees are reinvested into Public Safety,” Williams said. “That’s how we were able to install license plate readers and update our systems.”

Citations are now issued online, sending email notifications directly to students or violators.

Public safety officers recently completed shoot/no-shoot simulations using the Bats Machine simulator, training them to respond to real-life scenarios. Officers will also provide security for the new president’s residence, located off-campus, through patrols and a connected camera system.

Williams said residential safety has remained stable, with no major issues within the residence halls.

“One thing that we struggle with is students who prop open doors, because that gives access to anyone who may walk onto campus,” Williams said.

“Propping doors open is bad enough with rugs and wet floor signs, but people walking through and never removing them is also bad. We’re working with housing to get information out.” Williams said.

“Our goals are to protect the Claflin community while making efficient use of our resources,” Williams said. “God has blessed us with a safe campus, and we plan to keep it that way.”