In his capacity of the security manager of the university he will be in charge of security-related issues in coordination with the Czech emergency services (IZS) and the creation of internal security structures in terms of staffing, technical infrastructure and administration. He will also be involved in the establishment of security measures at the university and emergency plans and measures.
You came to Masaryk University from the law enforcement community. Can you explain the area of your expertise?
I have spent the last twenty years with the Czech police; most recently, the last seven years, in the national headquarters for organised crime in Prague (NCOZ). I was an investigator specialising in illegal migration and human trafficking, and later I was in charge of a department specialising in counterfeiting. Most recently I was head of a new department specialising in Czech criminal organisations that was founded in response to the recent development in the area of organised crime, typically with regard to public procurement, corruption and environmental crime.
Did you deal with violent attacks?
I was a member of the international EUNAT team, an international group whose members each represent a member state. Its mission was to share experience with kidnappings and hostage situations. In my capacity as the head of the department I was actively involved in investigation of crimes like extortion with the purpose of causing major damage, mostly towards government or local authorities or transport companies. I was also in charge of investigations of crimes of extortion against food production companies where there was a risk of use of mechanical or chemical means with the potential of causing serious harm or even death of consumers.
How will your police experience help you in your work at the university with regard to security?
It is mostly about the experience with the introduction of security measures related to a variety of risks and threats – they may be related to extortion of an institution or an individual, or areas of physical security of persons and property. While still working in Brno I was a member of the so-called anti-conflict team, so I have experience with techniques and methods for dissipating potentially conflict situations; and I am familiar with the techniques for covert routing and evacuation of buildings and comprehensive escorting an protection of individuals. It will be necessary to ensure that these activities do not cause unwanted attention and that everything takes place within the university environment. I am not planning any “campus police”. I would like security fully implemented within the university; I do not want the university to adapt to security. The first goal will be the completion of the security structure, which is a process that had started even before my arrival, which includes infrastructure and administration, namely the acceptance of the university’s security documentation and its completion. Personal security will be a key pillar of the system, meaning students, employees and temporary staff. I want them to be familiar with risks and to be trained to know how to react. But there will definitely be no metal detectors!
What do you imagine the training could look like?
I am planning to launch them in the fall semester. You can have any technical measures you want but it will always be up to people, about their actions and reactions. In the past there has been some basic online training for all students and employees. However experience has told us that in-person training is the most effective form of training. It allows students to better experience the atmosphere and it is easier for them to ask questions. As for me, it is about better feedback and the opportunity to hear some recommendations on further improvement of the security system as a whole. Security is a shared priority. I would like to coordinate with the bursar and individual faculties to find out how to implement it at individual faculties. My goals are quite ambitious: I want to introduce a model for training of all students who will show interest in it regardless of the year of study, followed by training for first-year students in the upcoming years and students interested in refresher training. It must be structured because students, teaching staff and employees will each require a different style and content.
What makes universities unique and what do you think about their protection and openness at the same time?
The university environment is indeed unique because of its openness, which is a fact that must be accepted even with regard to security. Masaryk University is a public university, and all buildings are public as well. That being said even the university has provisions in place on the entry of unauthorised persons and disruptions of classes or employees at their workplace. You can have an open university where students and employees are safe thanks to measures that do not affect the fundamental mission of education.
Can faculties and other structures contact you if they want to discuss security matters related to events they organise?
I already let all faculties know that they can expect my full cooperation. As a head of crisis management I will be taking part in all communication schemes where the role is expected to be involved. If any faculties or other institutions of the university have any questions or matters that they need to discuss, security-wise, I am here for them. As for cultural, social and other events, such as MUNI DAY, OPEN DAY and the like, it will always be about the evaluation of the event and the risks associated with them. You always have to assess how public an event is, the size of the venue, the anticipated number of attendees, indoor versus outdoor or possible traffic regulations. The university has a history of effective cooperation and communication with the police; the fact alone that you do not see the police at an event does not mean that the university and the police are not cooperating.