Security industry honors Healy

Public Safety Director Steven Healy, who was vocal in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings, has been named one of the security industry's top professionals.

Security Magazine's December issue includes Healy, who has been in charge of the University's law enforcement since 2003, among its "Top 25 People in the Security Industry." He ranks 11th on the magazine's second-annual list.

"It's an honor to be recognized for one's work," Healy said of the award, given for his contributions not only to Princeton but to campus security at colleges and universities across the country.

The magazine described his ideas about campus security as particularly important in the last year because of the shooting at Virginia Tech, during which a student gunned down 32 others before taking his own life in the worst shooting in U.S. history.

Healy was at the end of his three-year term as president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Officers at the time of the Virginia tech shootings. He continues "to lead initiatives in response to the tragedy" though his term is now over.

Healy said the shootings at Virginia Tech last spring also led the University's Public Safety department to reexamine its policies to ensure the safety of the University community. Shortly after the shooting at Virginia Tech, Healy told The Daily Princetonian that the University "feel[s] pretty confident about [our] protocol, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't go back and look at it." He added, "[Incidents like this] cause us to step back and look at our policies and to make sure our partners are fully engaged."

University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt '96 praised Healy's work at the University, adding that "the campus benefits directly from the leadership of individuals like Steven Healy."

Healy said that the most immediately challenging issue for Public Safety currently is alcohol abuse by students. "Our mission as Public Safety is to create a safe environment for everyone in the Princeton community, and that is why we're working on the drinking issue," he said. "We want the campus to be safe for both people who do and don't drink."