UNIVERSITY POLICE, Pa. – Three Penn State University Police officers are nationally certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) to conduct child safety seat inspections and assist with installations.
Officers Michelle Beckenbaugh, Allen Miller and Adam Rawding, all stationed at University Park, recently completed the rigorous National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Certification Training Program and were CPST certified by Safe Kids Worldwide.
Penn State University Police Officers Allen Miller, Michelle Beckenbaugh and Adam Rawding are nationally certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Credit: Jennifer Cruden. All Rights Reserved.
Technicians conduct child safety seat checks where parents and caregivers receive hands-on assistance for proper use of child restraint systems and safety belts. The technicians offer education, support and guidance.
Penn State students and employees at University Park can make an appointment with a child safety seat technician by calling 814-863-1111. Officers will be conducting free car seat safety checks at University Park. The next event will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the Green B parking lot next to Ford Building on Fischer Road. Penn State faculty, staff, students and clients of campus-based child care centers are invited to utilize this service. Participants should bring car seat and vehicle manuals to the event.
The nationally standardized training provides the technicians with the technical skills and knowledge for the correct installation and use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts. The technicians can also educate caregivers so that they have confidence when installing and reinstalling car seats and booster seats.
Safe Kids Worldwide works closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is responsible for the program’s curriculum, and the National Child Passenger Safety Board, which provides recommendations and guidance. State Farm sponsors the program.
The CPS certification program certifies people as child passenger safety technicians and instructors. Since the CPS certification program began in 1997, more than 162,000 people have successfully completed the certification course, including more than 41,000 currently certified as technicians.
About University Police and Public Safety
Established in 1926 as Campus Patrol, today Penn State University Police and Public Safety is responsible for protecting and serving more than 100,000 of Penn State’s students, faculty, staff and visitors at 22 campuses located throughout Pennsylvania.
In 2017, Penn State centralized University Police and Public Safety by combining campus-based units into one, cohesive department under the direction of the assistant vice president for police and public safety. The unified department includes roughly 135 police officers, 75 nonsworn and civilian staff and roughly 90 student employees.
University Police and Public Safety provides multiple resources and services, including police services, behavioral threat management, Clery compliance and emergency management. The department also includes a K-9 Unit and Community-Oriented Policing Unit.
Jennifer Cruden