Campus Security

Prior to 1972, security on the MSUM campus was provided by contracted services. The campus was only patrolled from 11pm-7am, and was supervised by the Administrative Affairs Office. The services provided by this arrangement did not meet the needs of the university.

On April 1, 1972 the Residence Hall Night Watch Program was initiated. Mr. Mike Pehler (the then director of Ballard Hall Residence Hall) developed the program. The program was coordinated by Mr. Pehler and was supported by 20 student staff members. Desks in the halls were staffed from 11pm-7am in Dahl, Nelson, Neumaier, and Snarr Halls. Night Watch staff only patrolled the residence hall areas from 6pm-7am. The uniform included red polo shirts and red jackets.

On June 30, 1974 the Night Watch program became responsible for the entire campus. Initially the patrol officers had no keys, no radios, and no dispatch center. They were minimally equipped to handle the security needs for the campus. In October of 1977 the university received a Special Award of Merit for the Moorhead State University Night Watch Program. The Night Watch was called ?An exemplary concept in campus security,? was mentioned in Security World Magazine, and was honored at the International Security Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Night Watch Program became Campus Security on June 30, 1983, when Mr. Pehler was appointed as the Director of Housing and Security. The Housing and Security Department divided into two departments on October 27, 1997. Parking Enforcement was added to Campus Security, and a second full-time security officer was hired, and a part-time secretary was hired.

In August of 2000, the Campus Security Department moved out of Ballard Residence Hall to a house at 1025 7 th Avenue South in Moorhead. The joint Campus Security/Moorhead Police Substation was designed, and security officers were issued new uniforms (gray shirts, black pants, and black jackets).

In January of 2001 the construction of the new MSUM Campus Security/Moorhead Police Substation was completed. This is believed to be the first joint facility of it's kind in the state of Minnesota for Police and Security. This facility has offices for MSUM Campus Security, as well as offices for the Moorhead Police Department. The facility is staffed 24 hours a day by Campus Security staff, and there is a Moorhead Police Volunteer at the reception desk from 12pm-8pm Monday thru Friday.

In January of 2002, the Campus Security moved into its new facility at 1616 9 th Avenue South. This new facility is equipped with a dispatch center, joint security and police reception center with locations for crime prevention materials, security and police offices, storage areas, and meeting rooms. Residents of South Moorhead, including campus students and staff, can come to the Security Substation to pay parking tickets, appeal parking tickets, purchase pet licenses, and get information on the City of Moorhead and campus services. They can also stop here anytime they need to speak to a Moorhead Police Officer in the event that an officer is not in the building the Campus Security Staff, or Moorhead Police Volunteer Staff will contact the Regional Dispatch Center and request an officer to meet them at this location.