DPS launches Community on Patrol
Program on campus combines neighborhood watch with community policing
Signs depicting the main message of the program have been placed in spots all over campus.
Campus Focus Editor
The students of USD now have a greater chance than ever to involve themselves with the age-old quest of catching the bad guys. Public Safety has launched the program Community on Patrol (COP), which combines aspects of neighborhood watch with community policing to ensure a safer living environment on campus.
The program was developed in January and most facilities employees on campus have already been trained, as well as Resident Directors, Resident Assistants and the staff of Copley Library. Training consists of teaching participants to be aware of the people and events occurring around them, to recognize suspicious behavior and learn the correct way to report it, to be helpful, but at the same time not endanger themselves, and empowering people to impact the safety of their community.
Chief Larry Barnett of Public Safety said that the program was developed because Public Safety was in search of more ways to involve the community in its own safety.
“The point of the program is to increase the number of eyes and ears in the community and to deter criminals from not only committing crime on campus, but from entering the campus area at all,” Barnett said.
Students may soon notice the signs posted at many points on campus boasting the COP program and a number to call to reach Public Safety, signs similar in a central message of crime deterrence to traditional neighborhood watch signs that students may be familiar with.
Becca Torres, USD alumnus and two-year support services manager of Public Safety, said that a main goal of the program is teaching people what to look for when noticing and reporting suspicious behavior.
“First and foremost, use your gut. Call Public Safety immediately if you have a bad feeling about something, because your instincts are usually right,” Torres said.
“When you do report a suspicious person," she said, "make sure to note descriptive qualities such as what the person is wearing, sex, height, specific markings such as facial hair or tattoos, and most importantly the last direction of travel. This is especially helpful.”
Lieutenant Quinton Kawahara of Public Safety stresses the fact that the sooner student calls Public Safety, the better.
“Students have the power to call for any problem, great or small, and call immediately! Time is of the essence for public safety officers,” Kawahara said.
Barnett said that most USD crimes are crimes of theft and opportunity.
“Many thefts of electronics occur when students or faculty do not properly secure their dorms or offices,” Barnett said. “People often leave things unattended, such as in the library. These crimes can be avoided by always securing your room or objects of value before leaving the area.”
Barnett reminds students that Public Safety is always open for ideas and is a very accessible department.
“Our department is very student-oriented and we are very dedicated to the students of this campus,” Barnett said. “We strongly believe in ‘safety through education’ and the COP program is evidence of this.”
For more information on COP go online at www.sandiego.edu/safety.
The Vista, October 4, 2007