George Manning combines technology with 'police work' at New York University

Sep 1, 1997 12:00 PM, GEORGE PARTINGTON

As the director of protection services for New York University, George Manning is responsible for the safety of nearly 6,000 students, faculty and employees. But ensuring the safety of the citizens in the Big Apple is nothing new for the long-time security professional. Before accepting his position at NYU, Manning was a member of New York's finest, serving as a police captain in precincts as diverse as Bedford-Stuyvesant and the Wall Street district.

As a security director, his beat has been reduced dramatically, allowing him to concentrate on crime prevention, rather than criminal apprehension. "Since police cover such a larger area, their work is more apprehension oriented," says Manning. "Although we do make some arrests here, the nature of our work is to prevent things from happening."

Manning focuses his preventive efforts on 79 campus locations, most of which are on the main campus in Greenwich Village. He employs 208 uniformed security officers working in three shifts, a large increase from the 80 officers on staff when he took the security reins in 1981.

The growth in staff reflects not only the growth of the university, but also Manning's belief in a well-trained, adequately staffed proprietary guard force. "We want the best people interacting with our faculty and students," says Manning. "At a university, it is important that they know what they are doing. They run into all kinds of situations." Contract security officers augment his staff for special events such as graduation or at lightly trafficked sites such as construction areas.

In addition to general security training, officers receive two hours of schooling each month that covers knowledge of the campus and its security equipment, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, emergency procedures, legal powers and limitations, property loss prevention, public relations, sexual harassment, ethics and conduct and report writing.

The NYU security staff must also maintain a professional relationship with the city police department. NYU facilities fall under the jurisdiction of six different NYPD precincts. "We spend a lot of time making sure we are friendly with the local precincts," says Manning. "We have a direct line to the police. They know that our people are trained and what we report they have to take seriously. We have a direct radio frequency to them, and they wouldn't do that unless our officers were well-trained."

In addition to their specialized training, Manning's security force is well-schooled in the basics-morale, neatness, courtesy and knowledgeability. The basics command respect, says Manning, adding "if they don't respect you, they don't respond to you." But Manning knows he could not provide top notch security without using the best high-tech equipment as well. "We are always on the lookout for anything that is helpful," he says.

Several buildings are now equipped with hand scanners that read a hand topographically to match it to a file of authorized personnel. "The hand scanner frees up the security officer to spend time with the visitors, because that is where the majority of problems evolve," says Manning. The security director has upgraded the closed-circuit television surveillance of dorm lobbies. At cashier stations, he has installed panic buttons that activate cameras, so his security personnel and New York City police officers do not have to enter an emergency situation blindly. Computers have been outfitted with sonic devices to sound an alarm if unauthorized individuals attempt to move them, and portable motion detectors allow security to monitor for intruders in some of the odd places that a large, historic university presents. A new telecommunications system links all university-owned radios for better coordination during emergencies.

Protecting students

Practically from the moment they arrive, New York University students are educated about safety awareness. The education works in concert with the extensive effort to keep students out of harm's way, and that effort does not stop at the edge of campus. Security personnel advise students on the best routes to take to points elsewhere, inform them about areas to avoid and provide safety rides to students under special circumstances.

NYU has entered into partnerships with area businesses that are open 24 hours and have agreed to function as safe havens, and many campus buildings have a green light that lets students know that a security officer is on duty 24 hours a day. To further enhance the nighttime safety of students and faculty, Manning has overseen a continual upgrade of lighting on campus.

As a public resource, NYU has an open-door policy, and "that requires a lot of attention from our people," notes Manning. Washington Square Park commands attention, since it lies in the midst of the main campus. "We sort of surround it, and students and faculty are always there," says Manning of the park. "We have emergency phones that the general public use also. When we get calls, we call the police and do what we can to help."

Manning advises local government officials on security matters at a community board meeting that the university hosts. The meetings give citizens a chance to interact with government agencies. When he isn't filling the role of protection professional, he enjoys senior league softball and golf. He has three grown children, a daughter and two sons, and lives five blocks from the office with his wife, Lorraine.

Manning keeps abreast of changing technology with courses at NYU. He is a Certified Protection Professional and member of ASIS, NECUSA, IACLEA and the National Law Enforcement Association. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1967 and a Masters in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1977.

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