West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is gaining national recognition for its campus safety efforts thanks to the expertise and leadership of Police Chief James Perry.
Earlier this year, Chief Perry was invited to write an article for Campus Safety Magazine highlighting WGTC’s implementation of the CENTEGIX mobile panic alert system. The article, which was published this summer, detailed how WGTC evaluated, purchased, and rolled out the system to all full-time employees. Perry’s piece also outlined the strengths and challenges encountered during implementation, along with real-life examples of how the system has been used on WGTC campuses.
WGTC has utilized CENTEGIX for the past three years, primarily in response to medical emergencies and other incidents. The system allows employees to press a wearable panic button, which instantly notifies campus police of the employee’s name and location. Officers receive the alert within seconds and can typically respond in less than a minute.
Building on this national exposure, Perry was also invited to present at the 2025 Campus Safety Conference in Austin, Texas, on July 22. The conference brought together more than 500 safety professionals from across the country, with attendees representing institutions from Florida to California and Washington to New York.
Perry’s presentation covered WGTC’s use of CENTEGIX, the college’s mass communication system, employee training in Stop the Bleed, AED, and CPR, and the planning and execution of multi-agency mass casualty drills. Following his session, Perry engaged in discussions with attendees, expanding on his presentation and exchanging ideas with peers.
“This is the second year I have attended the Campus Safety Conference and each year I have met some really great people,” Perry said. “What stands out to me is we all have the same issues and concerns and we all seek to better protect our campuses and the population we serve. I think we all give and take something away from these conferences that is beneficial in some way.”
Perry has since been asked to contribute another article to Campus Safety Magazine—this time on the topic of mass casualty drills. WGTC’s most recent drill in 2024, held in Coweta County, included 275 participants and more than 20 agencies. “Drills of this magnitude are very difficult to put on and require a lot of cooperation among all the agencies participating,” Perry said. The publisher has encouraged him to write a comprehensive piece, which may even be published as a series.
“Chief Perry’s leadership and expertise are making a difference not just at WGTC, but across the nation,” said WGTC President Dr. Julie Post. “His work helps ensure the safety of our students and employees, while also shaping best practices in campus safety nationwide. We are grateful to have Chief Perry here at West Georgia Tech—his dedication, innovation, and commitment to service are a tremendous asset to our college community.”
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit www.westgatech.edu.
