The University police division reported that with the help of increased awareness efforts and the presense of blue phones, the numbers of crime on campus dropped from 2000 to 2001.
On-campus theft saw the biggest statistical drop. In 2000, 342 thefts occurred; there were 309 last year. Crimes of aggravated assault, burglaries and arson also dropped from 39 to 35.
“I think we’ve done a decent job of providing crime prevention information to students coming to Bowling Green,” said James Wiegand, chief of the campus police department.
The campus police sets up information tables at student open houses to let them know what to be wary of when they come to the University. Wiegand also gave credit to the crime alerts that are hung around campus to alert students to crimes that have occured.
According to Richard Gullufsen, police information officer for the campus police, increased security in residence halls may also be deterring crime. About four years ago, police officers started being assigned specific residence halls that they would keep tabs on. This year, that was heightened to teams of officers being assigned to inform RA’s and hall advisors of campus safety and get feedback on specific halls.
“Our community policing efforts are beginning to pay off,” Gullufsen said. “I think that is a real important part of overall safety that is needed on campus.”
Besides increased efforts to inform incoming and current stuents about what to watch out for on campus, Wiegand said the blue phones have also contributed to less crime occurring.
The blue phones were set up around campus about a year ago and will ring the campus police as soon as they are taken off the receiver.
“They’re used very infrequently, mainly because there is not a lot of crime that occurs on campus,” he said. “They certainly have provided an improved sense of security here.”
Gullufsen said that although the blue phones have only been used a couple times, when they are used, the goal is to respond within two minutes.
“Hopefully, they won’t be needed for emergencies,” he said. “It’s good knowing that if something does happen, they have instant protection.”
While crime is going down, campus police said that it is impossible to know if the trend will continue, and they will continue their efforts and will attempt to raise more campus awareness of any issues facing the University.
“Crime across the country over the last four to six years is going down,” Wiegand said. “How long that trend will continue is anyone’s guess.”
