St. Mary’s City, Maryland – Captain Christopher Coons, assistant director of the Office of Public Safety at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, has become a Certified Clery Compliance Officer through the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals. The announcement came on July 29, 2025, via the office’s social media, marking the completion of a rigorous year-long program focused on adherence to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.
This certification underscores Coons’ dedication to St. Mary’s College Clery Compliance, ensuring the institution meets federal requirements for campus crime reporting and safety policies. The program, administered by the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals, involves extensive training, research, writing assignments, and a final assessment. Participants must demonstrate expertise in managing Clery Act obligations, which include compiling annual security reports and issuing timely warnings about potential threats.
Coons, who has served at St. Mary’s College since 2005, oversees the institution’s St. Mary’s College Clery Compliance efforts, including the preparation of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. His role involves maintaining accurate crime statistics, public logs, and policy disclosures as mandated by law. The certification enhances his ability to lead these initiatives, contributing to a safer environment for students and staff.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, enacted in 1990, requires colleges participating in federal financial aid programs to disclose campus crime data and security measures. Named after Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University student murdered in 1986, the law aims to promote transparency and prevent unreported incidents. Institutions must report statistics on crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and domestic violence for the prior three years, along with details on prevention programs and emergency procedures.
Amendments to the Clery Act have expanded its scope, incorporating reports on dating violence and stalking since 2014. Enforcement falls under the U.S. Department of Education, with penalties for noncompliance reaching up to $69,733 per violation. Notable cases include fines against Michigan State University and Liberty University for failures in reporting and warnings.
Coons’ background strengthens his contributions to St. Mary’s College Clery Compliance. He graduated from the Municipal Police Academy at Lackawanna College in 2003 and worked as a police officer in Pennsylvania before joining the college. As a certified instructor by the Maryland Police Training Commission, he teaches courses on expandable batons, handcuffing, OC aerosol spray, and Red Cross CPR and first aid. In 2019, he completed the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association leadership trilogy, earning recognition for his professional growth.
His achievements include being named Public Safety Officer of the Year in 2009 and 2014. Coons has also led community-oriented initiatives, such as the Stomp Out Stigma 5K for suicide awareness and prevention, which he conceived several years prior to its 2019 recognition as an outstanding peer education program by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Additionally, his CPR training sessions have equipped college employees with life-saving skills, as evidenced by a 2021 incident where a trained staff member saved a life.
As higher education faces evolving safety challenges, certifications like this reinforce accountability. For St. Mary’s College Clery Compliance, Coons’ expertise ensures timely and accurate reporting, benefiting the campus community in this rural Southern Maryland setting.