8:21 a.m., Feb. 4, 2011----Mark Seifert, a research administration manager in the Office of Campus and Public Safety at the University of Delaware, has been selected to participate in strategic planning processes at two national law enforcement associations.

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With the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Seifert will participate in the organization's strategic planning process for fiscal year 2011. The bureau works to support and advance law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, victim services, technology and prevention initiatives in communities across America.

A key mandate of the BJA, which provided more than $4 billion in funding for FY 2009, is to implement evidence-based research and practices, Seifert said.

“I hope to be a voice that reinforces the need for research to be actionable on the frontlines so that our police officers are more effective,” Seifert said. “It is critically important that the services and byproducts of this funding truly benefit the communities that are facing violent crime and fiscal challenges.”

Seifert also was selected by the International Association of Police (IACP) to serve on a committee for the automated license plate recognition review. With 20,000 members in 89 countries, the IACP and the National Institute of Justice have formed a special license plate reader systems technical committee to research and develop standards for the use of automated license plate reader systems.

“By participating in this committee, I will be at the forefront of developing standards and help promote best practices in the use of these systems with leading law enforcement colleagues, manufacturers and researchers from across the nation,” Seifert said. “This also will allow me to promote cutting-edge research and best practices at a time when the UD Police Department evaluates this technology for our own application.”

Seifert, who has been previously involved with research efforts in both organizations, said being able to help shape future public safety research initiatives also fits well with the research vision of the UD's Path to Prominence^TM strategic plan.

“It's an honor to be able to represent the University and the men and the women of the Office of Campus and Public Safety,” Seifert said. “Ultimately, it is my goal that both the BJA and the IACP will promote officer safety, efficiency and greater effectiveness in the policing industry across our country.”

Albert “Skip” Homiak, executive director of campus and public safety at UD, said that being selected to serve on both committees is a continuation of Seifert's commitment to serving the University and the general law enforcement communities.

“Mark's vast law enforcement experience and perspective will assist in shaping the direction and focus of BJA grants fro the next several years,” Homiak said. “His involvement also will provide the UD public safety department an opportunity to gain recognition in the broader law enforcement arena.”

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson