Spotlight: IU Police Department

In exploring My Voice at IU survey results, IU Police Department (IUPD) leadership and the university-wide staff found the key to unlocking greater engagement: communication. Learn how addressing survey question two (Q02) established new ways for staff to connect with leadership, address specific issues, work together, and increase engagement below.

My Voice at IU Engagement Question:

I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right.

Photo of employees
Indy, IUPD-IUPUI's new explosives-detecting dog.
Photo courtesy of IU Communications.

What we’ve found is we don’t have to change huge things—just change little things and it makes a huge difference.”
- Major Brad Seifers, University Director for Emergency Management and Continuity; Support Services

Background

“After reviewing the engagement survey results around Q02, we heard from our officers and staff that they didn’t feel as if they had the tools necessary to do their jobs,” said Brad Seifers, Director of Emergency Management and Continuity and Major for Public Safety for Support Services. “There were too few opportunities for staff to voice their ideas or concerns in this area, as well as more broadly.”

Actions

Small volunteer working groups determined specific topics that required attention and proposed related improvement plans—each one called for leaders to become more directly engaged with employees. In response, new outreach tactics that allow employees opportunities to share thoughts, ideas, and concerns were launched, including:

  • Regular “Town Hall” meetings with Chiefs/leaders and department/staff
  • One-on-one listening sessions at all levels of the organization
  • Mini-retreats hosted by Public Safety and Institutional Assurance (PSIA) Associate Vice President Benjamin Hunter

The new direct feedback mechanisms greatly enhanced the staff’s ability to bring suggestions forward, leading to multiple efforts to ensure employees had what they need to do their job including:

Indy
  • A de-escalation commission formed and has completed its work. Learn more here
  • Focus groups with faculty for feedback on what officers need to perform their duties and to protect campuses
  • A review of each campus ’ uniform footwear policy led to standardization across the university
  • Indy, a dog trained in explosive detection, and a canine officer joined the IUPD-IUPUI police force, adding a valuable service to the IUPUI campus and community
  • Motorcycle patrol units were added to the Bloomington and IUPUI departments and additional officers were certified to ride them to meet traffic safety and event needs
  • Increased officer participation in development/update of standard operating procedures across IUPD

Impact

“Our employees feel like they have more of a say in what’s going on around them,” said Major Seifers. “That’s a change in approach around here that is appreciated. We now provide them regular avenues to voice their thoughts and concerns and can see how this positively impacts engagement.”

Several departments have replicated the My Voice at IU survey process to continue collecting feedback, assess their engagement level, and tweak their plans. Leadership is also keeping engagement at the forefront by using balance scorecards that include employee engagement for all directors reporting to the Associate Vice President.

Major Seifers shared that the process has created more relationships and unity at PSIA. “Staff have commented how much easier it is to come to an organizational leader and talk. As a whole, PSIA has grown a great deal through this process.”

Related News

April 24, 2019
Inside IU: IUPD updates training, use of data and tools available to officers

April 3, 2019
Inside IU: IUPD-IUPUI welcomes Indy, its new explosives-detecting dog