Alabama A&M University’s Department of Public Safety Friday announced more security measures following a year where two shootings occurred on the Huntsville campus.

A firearm and explosive detecting K-9 will be on campus this fall, according to officials. In addition, a Department of Public Safety Sub-Station has been opened inside Knight Complex – the first of its kind on campus.

The University has also partnered with a security contractor and begun expanded patrols inside Knight Complex and Foster Complex during peak hours. 

Last year, the university spent $600,000 on body cameras, surveillance grid upgrades, and other enhancements, such as outdoor cameras to monitor activity in parking lots and other key areas.

“These are important steps in continuing to increase our presence on campus,” Police Chief Montez Payton said. “We’ve had very positive responses to these changes so far as the entire campus community understands the importance of improving infrastructure to be both proactive and responsive to campus safety and emergencies.”

The Knight Complex has been the scene of two shootings since last August.

The first on Aug. 22, erupted following an altercation, injuring two people and leading to the arrests of two suspects.

Then on March 18, a man was shot by a campus police officer on the fifth floor of the Knight Complex residence hall. The officer was conducting a routine patrol around 1:50 p.m., and heard shots fired below him.

As the officer responded to see where the shots were coming from, he made contact with a person in the southwest stairwell of the residence hall and shot them. Juvuan Maurice Richards Jr., 20, of Mobile, was arrested March 18 and charged with discharging a gun in an occupied building.

The campus police officer, who was not publicly identified, was not injured.

“The safety and security of our campus is something we think about and work on constantly,” Vice President of Student Affairs Braque Talley said. “Our team will continue to focus on finding ways to meet the needs of an ever-growing campus while keeping students, staff and visitors safe. It takes all of us to protect The Hill.”