Thomas Robbins said that from day one at the Boston University Police Department, he has worked to address pubic safety issues on campus.
“I have one major goal and that goal is to keep the community safe,” Robbins, BUPD’s chief director of public safety, said.
Before joining BUPD in June 2006, Robbins worked with the Massachusetts State Police for 27 years and served as colonel and superintendent. Robbins said that his work in the anti-gang violence unit, as well as other assignments, taught him about policing and public safety issues.
The problem with policing, he said, is effectively communicating with the students. Robbins said that it is important to remind students that the legal drinking age is 21 and that if they are going to consume alcohol, they should drink safely.
“For new students on campus, it can be a double-edged sword because they feel safe in the community but they don’t realize they are in a big city, which has crime,” Robbins said. “Students who are not used to the urban environment tend to let their guard down too much and allow themselves to be taken advantage of.”
BUPD officials have called Robbins a leader in improving BUPD procedures and regulations. His changes helped BUPD obtain state accreditation in September 2011.
Peter Fiedler, vice president of Administrative Services, said that BUPD sought “strong, professional leadership” when Robbins joined in 2006. With Robbins’s review of BUPD and operational changes, he said the chief has improved the staff’s reputation.
“My goals when Tom arrived were fairly simple: bring up the overall performance and professional stature of the department while earning the respect of the men and women of the department,” Fiedler said. “Tom has accomplished this and, of course, much more.”
State accreditation, their most recent accomplishment, is a result of BUPD’s meeting its policies, procedures, rules and enforcement of the best practices on college campuses and municipal police departments, Robbins said.
BUPD expects to receive federal accreditation by the end of the 2013, which will make it the first college police force in the state with federal accreditation, Robbins said. The officials’ efforts require work in computer technology, training and strategies to hire officers and perform patrols.
“This is a real opportunity for us to incorporate the best practices to keep the community safe,” Robbins said. “Our motto is ‘community policing,’ and we want feedback from the community to help us provide the best services.”
Fiedler said that since Robbins took command of BUPD, the force’s relationship with the Boston Police Department, the Brookline Police Department and state police has improved.
“The department has earned a great reputation under Tom’s leadership. We see that every time we have an open position for a new patrol office, we get dozens of applications,” Fiedler said.
BUPD deputy director of public safety Scott Paré also said Robbins’ leadership is effective.
“Chief Robbins is a proactive leader,” Paré said. “He has led the department through Certification and Accreditation for the department. He has worked to get the officers the best available equipment and training possible.”
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