Replacement mobile command center donated to Purdue public safety team

Mike Terlep, president of Coachmen RV, presents keys to the new mobile command center to Carol Shelby, senior director of environmental health and public safety, Police Chief John Cox (right), and Fire Chief Kevin Ply (third from left). Terlep is joined by his sons and Purdue alumni, Michael and Nick. (Purdue Administrative Operations Communications photo) Download image

Purdue University and area emergency responders now have a new mobile command center that hosts standby emergency services and supports emergency response for large events.

Mike and Sheila Terlep and Coachmen RV – a division of Forest River Inc. – donated a brand-new, 28-foot Coachmen Freedom Express travel trailer to the University’s Environmental Health and Public Safety unit. This command center replaces the previous trailer, which had served as a backup emergency 911 dispatch location since 2007.

 “Our relationship with Coachmen has continued for more than 10 years now, and we are thrilled to accept this generous donation,” said Carol Shelby, senior director of environmental health and public safety.

More than 3,000 special events are held annually on campus, and the command center will be present at home football games,  Spring Fest, commencements, Grand Prix, and Elliott Hall of Music events, among others. Staff within the mobile unit will monitor weather, attendee behavior and patron and facility safety and will provide emergency response within seconds as needed. For emergencies on or near campus that require extended responses, the mobile command center will be used by Purdue and partner agencies to gather as a unified command and provide planning and support to the emergency responders on site.

The new trailer was custom designed for Purdue and includes two separate gathering spaces with tables and seating for up to 10 people. Purdue EHPS added telecommunications equipment, surveillance cameras and an onboard propane generator to support public safety tasks.

“Coachmen permitted us to engage with them throughout the building process,” said Fire Chief Kevin Ply. “This enabled us to address our specific communications needs from the start and prewire the new command center.”

Coachmen donated the first travel trailer to Purdue in 2007 for similar uses. It served its purpose well for the past 11 years, officials say, and will be sold through Purdue’s surplus process as it has reached the end of its useful life.