Programs Help Enhance Campus Safety

9-12-97
University Park, Pa. --- Proactive initiatives such as crime avoidance programs, community awareness, and community cooperation and support programs have successfully helped to combat crime at Penn State's University Park campus.

David Stormer, assistant vice president for safety and environmental services, gave a report on campus safety issues before the Board of Trustees today (Sept. 12).

"Since the 1980s, the officers assigned to the Residence Hall Police Team focus on providing one-third of the residence hall students with a crime avoidance program during an academic year," Stormer said. "That means seven or eight officers contacting approximately 3,000 to 4,000 students over the year with information about preventing crimes."

Another important activity is continual community information and awareness about crime, including distributing notices in the residence halls, media publicity, police reports and electronic communications, he added. The University Police Services have been publicly sharing information long before the passage of the 1988 Pennsylvania Right-to-Know law on campus crime and the federal law in 1990.

The Penn State Emergency Phone System allows students to call without charge and report criminal activity or seek assistance on campus. The emergency phones are located throughout campus and inside some buildings such as residence halls.

Police Services employs a total of 46 Professional Police Service Officers and Supervisors, seven Community Service Officers, three Property Protection Guards, and four Police Telecommunicators who provide protection and service twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

In addition, approximately 250 students are employed and trained as student auxiliary officers. This includes a Residence Hall Security Unit who works from 7 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. in the residence halls with the coordinators, resident assistants and student residents.

A bicycle patrol has been added to become more visible and close to the University community. The Penn State Escort Service provides students, faculty or staff with a walking escort to or from any location year-round within a reasonable walking distance of campus. Each year, these student employees accompany over 6,000 persons about State College and University Park.

A Victim/Witness Advocate offers support and guidance to victims or witnesses who need additional information such as canceling credit cards when property is taken and what to expect when they appear in court for the first time.

While enrollment at University Park has increased for the past 20 years, crime has decreased, Stormer said.

As University Park enrollment has steadily grown from 32,588 in 1977 to 39,782 in 1996, index crimes, known as Part I offenses, have fallen from 1,042 in 1977 to 748 in 1996. Part I offenses include murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, auto theft and arson.

"Overall, the crime rate in the United States has generally been falling since 1981 contrary to the media reports," Stormer said. "This holds true for Pennsylvania and for University Park. Plus, the campus' central location has been a major factor in the low crime rate at University Park when compared with more urban universities.

However, "we have made available a high level of police services, comparable to all other police agencies, which also has contributed to a lower crime rate," Stormer said. "All the officers have earned a baccalaureate degree and have been members of the higher education community, as well as working side by side with the many student officers. Each officer understands and views the students on this campus as our community."

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Contact: Vicki Fong (814) 865-9481 (office) (814) 238-1221 (home) vyf1@psu.edu