A P R I L 2 0 1 7 P A G E 1 T O P I C S

NOVA Honors

Our Public Safety

Dispatchers

Staying Safe From

Floods

Download LifeSafe

Meet Mike Gonza-

lez, NOVA Dis-

patcher

Meet Nathaniel

Sellers, Emergency

Coordinator

NOVA Police

Training and

Events

S E L E C T E D

P O L I C E

S E R V I C E S

Escorts to vehicles

Motorist assists

Crime

prevention and response

training

Lost and found

Child safety seat

installation and assessment

Police Dispatch

(703) 764-5000

Call Us 24/7/365

NOVA Honors Our Public Safety Dispatchers

The second full week of April (April 9-15) is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

This event, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Interna-

tional, is celebrated annually, and honors the thousands of professionals who respond to emer-

gency calls, dispatch emergency personnel and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to

citizens.

Recent events have highlighted the work of NOVA’s telecommunications professionals, who

operate 24/7/365 in a state-of-the-art communications center. They respond to all crimes,

alarms, and campus calls for assistance. They respond to requests for services submitted in per-

son and via telephone calls and NOVA’s free LiveSafe public safety app (download LiveSafe at

https://www.nvcc.edu/police/livesafe.html), and promulgate timely warnings and emergency

notifications to keep NOVA safe. Finally, they provide countless services to those needing ac-

cess to a secured area, lost and found information, and help in navigating the NOVA bureaucra-

cy. Because our dispatchers are so intimately involved in so many safety and security activities,

it should come as no

surprise that they con-

duct more than 60,000

transactions annually!

NOVA’s dispatchers

are consummate pro-

fessionals. They re-

ceive over 120 hours

of initial training, six

months of on the job

training, and continu-

ing training through-

out the year. They are

proficient in the Na-

tional Incident Com-

mand System, the Incident Command System, and the Virginia Criminal Information Network.

It is no wonder Dan Dusseau, Director of Public Safety at NVCC, lauded the college’s dispatch-

ers with high praise, stating “Our dispatchers are the unsung heroes of NOVA’s public safety

program. They are available 24/7/365, and provide everything from routine to lifesaving infor-

mation and services to the NOVA community.”

NOVA’s dispatch center is located on the Annandale campus in the CA building, and can be

reached anytime by calling 703-764-5000 or via LiveSafe. We congratulate our dispatchers for

their unsurpassed dedication and professionalism. Feel free to drop by or call Dispatch to say

hello, get a tour of the facilities, and acknowledge their superior service to the college.

P A G E 2

Staying Safe from Floods

Last month, in our spring hazard series, we discussed tornado preparedness. We continue this series

with flooding, another spring hazard that can occur just as suddenly.

Flooding is a major annual threat in Virginia. While it is a common hazard, not all floods are alike.

Some floods develop slowly. Others, such as flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without

visible signs of rain. The tips below will help you prepare for flooding emergencies.

For more information, please contact NOVA’s Office of Emergency Management and Safety at

http://www.nvcc.edu/emergency/ or 703-764-5043. Also, please visit http://www.vaemergency.gov/

prepare-recover/threat/floods/ and https://ready.gov/floods.

Basic Safety Tips Avoid walking or driving through flood wa-

ters.

Just a few inches of moving water can knock

you down.

Just 6” can make you lose vehicle control.

Almost half of flood deaths happen in vehi-

cles.

If there is a chance of flash flooding, move

immediately to higher ground. Flash floods

are the #1 cause of weather-related deaths.

If floodwaters rise around your car but the

water is not moving, abandon the car and

move to higher ground. Do not leave the car

to enter moving water.

Avoid camping or parking along streams,

Definitions

Flood Watch or Flash Flood Watch

There is a possibility of flooding or a flash flood

in the next 36 hours.

Flood Warning

Issued when a river gauge has exceeded, or is fore-

cast to exceed, a predetermined flood stage.

Flash Flood Warning

Flash flooding is imminent, generally within the

next 1 to 3 hours; usually issued based on observed

heavy rainfall (measured or radar estimated), but

may also be issued for significant dam breaks that

have occurred or are imminent.

Prepare Before a Flood Contact your county or city to determine

your flood risk.

Make a flood emergency plan with your

family.

Build or restock your emergency prepared-

ness kit, including a flashlight, batteries,

cash, and first aid supplies.

Familiarize yourself with local emergency

plans. Know where to go and how to get

there should you need to get to higher

ground, the highest level of a building, or

Get Your Home Ready Homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood

damage. About 25% of all flood claims come

from outside of the floodplain, but only 4.3% of

Virginia homes in those areas are covered by

flood insurance.

Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric

panel in your home if you live in an area that has

a high flood risk.

Consider installing check valves to stop flood-

water from backing up into the drains of your

home.

Unplug electrical appliances and move them to

higher levels, if possible. Do not touch an elec-

tric appliance if you are wet or standing in water.

P A G E 3

Download LiveSafe, the Next Step in Campus Safety

On April 2, 2014, NOVA launched LiveSafe, its free mobile safety app. Response has been

excellent, and almost 4,000 have downloaded this outstanding resource on their Android or i-

phones.

NOVA Police Chief Dan Dusseau, is a big fan. “LiveSafe is a groundbreaking effort that has

improved communications between the NOVA community and its police”, he stated. “It allows

instantaneous and, if desired, anonymous contact with the police to provide tips on suspicious,

illegal, or emergency activities, and it allows the user to upload audio, video and photographs.

This evidence greatly assists us in responding more effectively, with the ultimate benefit of

making our campuses safer and more secure”, Dusseau added.

LiveSafe has shown significant benefits in the last three years. Police dispatch has already re-

ceived more than 150 tips, including information about vehicle accidents, assaults, disorderly

conduct, suspicious activities, and campus equipment/facilities in need of repair. Dispatch has

also received more than 65 emergency messages and provided almost 800 virtual escorts to

NOVA community members. The app has also been used to offer suggestions to the police.

Finally, LiveSafe provides immediate emergency response information on what to do in the

event of many emergency situations, such as an active shooter, a bomb threat, severe weather,

or sexual assault.

“Downloading the app is easy. Even a police lieutenant can do it!” said Lt. John Weinstein,

who coordinated the LiveSafe roll out for the police department. “It takes about a minute. Just

go to iTunes or Google Play, download LiveSafe and select NOVA as your school, and fill in

the profile.

NOVA is one of the few colleges in Northern Virginia that offers this free personal safety app.

Take a moment and do something that will empower you, keep you and your friends safe, pro-

vide peace of mind, and make NOVA’s already safe campuses and centers even safer. If you

have any questions, stop by any campus police office or call Police dispatch (703-764-5000) or

check out the police website at www.nvcc.edu/police for the LiveSafe link. If you would like a

presentation at a division or staff meeting or for a class, call dispatch and the police will make it

happen!

Download NOVA’s free LiveSafe mobile safety app.

www.LiveSafeMobile.com

P A G E 4

Meet Mike Gonzalez, NOVA Dispatcher

Michael Gonzalez currently serves NOVA as a public safety dispatcher, and has

been with the College since 2009. He began his career as a P-14 Parking En-

forcement officer at the Manassas campus and transitioned to a full-time over-

night campus security officer at Manassas in 2011. He spent three months in

that position before becoming a NOVA public safety dispatcher in November

2011.

Mike has obtained superior professional training and holds numerous certifica-

tions. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services certifications include

Communications Basic, General Instructor, Field Training Officer (which au-

thorizes him to train and assess new dispatchers), campus security officer, and

Virginia Criminal Information Network operator. He is also certified by the

Association of Public Safety Communications Officials as both Public Safety

(PST-1) and Law Enforcement Telecommunicators, Active Shooter for Public

Safety Communications, and Comprehensive Quality Assurance.

He puts these skills to work in many ways that benefit the College: he is on the LiveSafe mobile Safety App and em-

ployee recruitment and retention committees. Mike also serves on the Public Safety Advisory Committee reporting

to Police Chief Dan Dusseau.

Mike is married and has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys video gaming, painting, and playing both the elec-

tric and acoustic guitars.

Mike Gonzalez has played a significant role in the establishment and maintenance of the high standards of service

that keep the college safe, thereby contributing to the achievement of its academic mission.

The Of-

fice of Emergency Management and Safety (OEMS) welcomes NOVA’s newest

Emergency Coordinator, Nathaniel Sellers. Nathaniel will be responsible for

OEMS operations at the Woodbridge and Alexandria campuses, and will con-

duct training and exercises college-wide—including the Campus Community

Emergency Response Team (C-CERT). He was previously the Emergency Plan-

ner at the Prince William Health District of the Virginia Department of Health,

and is currently an Emergency Management Specialist for the D.C. Air National

Guard. Prior to joining the Air Guard, Nathaniel was a Medic for the Army Na-

tional Guard in Idaho and Virginia, and deployed overseas.

Nathaniel earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho

and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from American Military University

in Emergency and Disaster Management.

Nathaniel has achieved many awards and certifications, including: Hazardous Materials Technician, FEMA Profes-

sional Development Series, DHS National Planners Course, Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program

(HSEEP), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), American Heart Association BLS CPR/AED, and OSHA

30-Hour General Industry Safety and Health.

Nathanial can be reached at nsellers@nvcc.edu.

Meet Nathaniel Sellers, Emergency Coordinator

P A G E 5

NOVA Police Training and Events

NOVA Police conduct an active community outreach program and are looking for opportuni-

ties to address your class, club, division, or campus at large on any of the following topics:

Active Shooter Response

Dealing with Difficult People

Staying Safe in the Classroom

Staying Safe on the Campus

Self-Defense Considerations

Survival 101: Staying Safe in the Community

10 Things Adjuncts (and other faculty) Should Know About Security

20 Things You Probably Don’t Know About the NOVA Police (But You Should)

Bomb Threat Response

Sexual Assault, Crimes Against Women, and/or Bystander Intervention

Identity Theft

DUI Awareness

Narcotics

If you are interested in scheduling any police training, please contact Officer Juan Cardenas at

jcardenas@nvcc.edu or (703) 764-5000 to arrange a convenient time.

Contact Officer Juan Cardenas, NOVA Police Com-

munity Outreach Officer, at Jcardenas@nvcc.edu

with any questions.

NOVA COLLECTION SITES

04/29/2017

10:00am - 2:00pm

Annandale Campus

8333 Little River Turnpike

CA Building

1st Floor, Main Entrance Lobby Area

Annandale, VA 22003

Alexandria Campus

5000 Dawes Ave.

Tyler Building

1st Floor Main Entrance Lobby Area

Alexandria, VA 22311

*We cannot accept any syringes*