OSPS Keeps Fans Safe During 2024 Football Season

Liberty University’s Office of Security and Public Safety (OSPS) went above and beyond during the 2024 football season to make sure every guest who stepped into Williams Stadium was safe.  

Director of Emergency Management and Community Engagement, Jeffery Hurtak, oversees the Incident Management Team (IMT), which is composed of leaders from partnering Liberty departments. These departments include Liberty University Police Department (LUPD), Lynchburg Emergency Services, Rhino Security, the Virginia State Police and more.  

On game days, the IMT meets in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to manage any situation happening inside the football stadium or around campus. Hurtak’s job is to be the voice of organized protection, and instruct members of the IMT on how to best manage any safety issues that might arise. 

“For example, if someone were to have a ticket issue, we have public safety in here (EOC). So, when ticket staff are having issues that is going beyond their control, in here I have public safety who will instruct police to rush that incident. Then the crowd can keep focusing on the game,” Hurtak said. 

Hurtak said that he doesn’t instruct the partnering departments on how to do their job; his role is to make decisions on what departments need to be a part of a solution when necessary. Rather than multiple groups trying to understand the big picture of a situation, Hurak can assist in getting everyone on the same page so that crucial decisions can be made quickly. 

To delegate tasks throughout a football game, Hurtak has to be aware of what is going on within Williams Stadium. This is where the School of Aeronautics comes in. Kevin Martin, the director of technology innovations, has a fleet of drones that survey Liberty’s campus, making the EOC aware of any possible problems. These drones are all operated by students within the School of Aeronautics.  

“The value we bring is that we have multiple teams set up around campus that are flying the drones with a live stream camera feed back into here (EOC),” Martin said. “He’s (Hurtak) telling us what he needs to see and we’re able to be from one end of campus to the other in about 45 seconds.” Martin said. 

Hurak said he’s grateful to have Martin’s eyes in the sky. The IMT takes advantage of the drones on game days to assist with crowd control, traffic jams or medical emergencies that may benefit from a point of view from above. 

“We manage every football game, commencement or any big event here as if it was an incident, not an event. It’s good training so when an incident occurs, we all know our partners,” Hurtak said.  

Emily Ruble, EMCE’s emergency management planner, said she felt the team exercised their skills during the Liberty vs. East Carolina University game on Sept. 21. The game did not end until 4 a.m. after being postponed four hours due to weather. Hurtak said the IMT had an in-house meteorologist giving the team live updates to stay informed on decisions regarding the storm.  

“This season presented some unique challenges, most notable being an extended weather delay, but these challenges were overcome through exceptional teamwork between athletics and those working in the Emergency Operations Center,” LUPD stated.  

The team reflected on their growth over the past two years and believe that they are doing a better job now more than ever by being prepared for every emergency.  

“Our job is to make sure that every fan, every person that is on that field can focus on the enjoyment of the game,” Hurtak said. “We want the coaches and players not to have to worry about what is going on in the stands or outside of the stadium. That’s why we exist.” 

As the IMT works to perfect their systems, they hope to continue growing in excellence regarding their craft, as well as continuing to build the team they have established.  

Mullet is a staff writer for the Liberty Champion.