WATERVILLE -- With a new year of classes starting Wednesday at Colby College, several new policies and efforts are being eyed in an attempt to foster a better relationship between students and college security officers.

The efforts were recommended in a detailed report, prepared for the college this spring by independent consultant Ralph Martin II, managing partner of the Boston law firm Bingham McCutchen.

Martin's report was by ordered by College President William "Bro" Adams, in response to a controversial incident during the wee hours of Easter morning, April 12, which sparked criticism from students and a large campus rally.

Security officials attempted to assist an intoxicated student who was lying on a couch in the Pugh Center on campus after a dance. Two other students -- Ozzy Ramirez and Jacob Roundtree -- allegedly attempted to interfere with the situation and security officers pinned the students to the ground until a large police force arrived and charged the two men with assault and criminal trespass.

In a 29-page report released a month after the incident, Martin concluded that "virtually everyone involved could have conducted themselves better," and made several recommendations to the college.

Three separate studies by the college about Martin's suggestions took place during the summer months and have not yet been completed, Colby spokesman David Eaton said last week.

"We do not yet have all three reports," Eaton said. "At this point, President Adams hopes to address the reports and some of those issues at his state of the college address later this month."

The address is scheduled for Sept. 15, starting at 7 p.m. in the auditorium in the Page Building, Eaton said.

In a message posted July 13 on Colby's Web site, Adams said Martin's recommendations mostly fell into four categories: "actions Colby should take to set and promulgate clear rules for student-security interactions; actions Colby should take with regard to its emergency and notification protocols; ways Colby can improve the relationship between students and the Security Department; and actions Colby should take to evaluate current security procedures and protocols."

As a result, Adams said, the college would undertake several internal studies.

One category of study includes rules about: behavior that is and is not allowed when representatives of Colby Emergency Response, or CER, tend to a student; security's specific responsibilities when CER is administering; students' responsibilities when receiving instructions from security; the difference between security's role and the Dean's Office's role in enforcing policies, among others.

"If clear rules do not now exist, we will draft them," Adams said in his message. "We will make the rules readily accessible in online formats, especially, and in any relevant printed materials distributed to students and employees."

Adams expected that work to be completed during the summer.

Martin's report also suggested that Colby hire an outside consultant to evaluate existing security procedures and training. As a result, Adams said in his message, Colby has retained three consultants -- a representative of Kroll Inc., an internationally-known firm that the college has worked with previously, plus the security departments at Williams and Bates colleges -- to conduct the evaluation.

"They will visit the campus this summer," Adams wrote, "and Colby should have their recommendations before classes resume in the fall."

Finally, Martin's report addressed what Adams calls "community policing," amounting to the "the ongoing relationship between Colby students and the Security Department." Martin's ideas to foster better relations include information sessions, barbecues and other activities.

Also in his message, Adams disclosed that a security officer involved in the incident with Ramirez and Roundtree "is no longer employed at the college."

Eaton, the college spokesman, declined to identify the security officer or to say whether the officer resigned or was fired. He also declined to say whether the officer was the same security employee who, in May, was placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the April 12 incident.

"We have a distance to go in ameliorating the effects of April 12," Adams wrote, "but I believe that the community's call for a reasoned and thoughtful approach to these and other issues bodes well for our future."

Eaton declined to estimate when the college's separate studies would be finished.

"I would say the work the president described is continuing and my expectation is he will talk about all of these things at the state of the college address and talk with students, faculty, staff and alumni before we start talking outside of the (Colby) community," Eaton said. "I think we owe it to the students and others to talk with them about this first."

Scott Monroe -- 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com