Tennessee State Opens Satellite Police Office in Heart of Campus

A Facilities Management staff affixes the TSU Police Satellite Station sign on the door, as a Channel 5 cameraman covers the opening of the new office. (Photo by John Cross, TSU Media Relations)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee State University Police Department has increased its presence on campus recently opening a new satellite office right in the heart of the campus.

The new office will put the department in closer proximity to the university’s high-traffic area at the Floyd-Payne Campus Center near the courtyard area, and will serve to build stronger relationships with students in an effort to protect the campus community and visitors and to provide quicker response to criminal activity, and identify and remove those who are unauthorized visitors to the campus.

Student Government Association President Racia Poston, left, talks to reporters during the opening of the new TSU Police Satellite Station in the campus center. (Photo by John Cross,TSU Media Relations)

“The administration is taking a multifaceted approach to further enhance safety measures that strategically address the issue of ensuring that there are no weapons or other illegal activity on our campus,” said TSU President Glenda Glover. “We will strictly enforce the TSU ID policy, requiring students, faculty and staff to wear IDs at all times.”

The satellite location has been fully operational since Nov. 1 as part of new safety measures announced by Glover under her 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan. The office is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and operates through staffed police officers and security guards in three eight-hour shifts, according to TSU Police Chief Anthony Carter.

“In just a short time, we have noticed a safer, more collegial environment since opening this location,” Carter said. “It is much better and it’s getting better every day.”

Carter continued, “This location has also done a lot to improve our engagement with students. Our officers laugh, joke and have conversations with them. It has been beneficial in building relationships with the student body and creating a more safe and friendly atmosphere.”

The increased visibility of TSU’s police force is amplified by a partnership with Metro Nashville Police, who have joined with TSUPD to provide increased patrols on campus. Other safety measures under the incorporation of a tip hotline, the offering of cash rewards for anonymous tips, a Student Safety Patrol, more frequent room inspections, and enhanced surveillance, among other efforts.

Students, employees, and visitors are encouraged to report all incidents, emergencies and crimes directly to TSUPD. For more information on the new TSU Police satellite office, contact (615) 963-5171.

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.