The Department of Public Safety has initiated new methods and new forms of transportation in an attempt to ensure the safety of students and their belongings on campus.
“We’re just like any other campus in the fact that there is criminal mischief on campus but the difference is who is doing something about it, who is taking proactive steps, who is trying to curtail it,” said Lieutenant David Webb of the Department of Public Safety. “We are on the cutting edge here at Prairie View,” he said.
Public opinion on campus may differ but crime statistics are available to all.
In lieu of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Prairie View A & M University Police Department must publish and distribute an annual Campus Security Report, which contains a record of all crimes that occurred on campus.
Last semester, the October 1, 2007 edition of the Campus Security Police & Crime Statistics Report was e-mailed through a campus announcement to all Prairie View student e-mail accounts, which included the past three years (2004-2006) of crime statistics for Prairie View A&M University as mandated by the United States Department of Education.
Students can obtain a hard copy of the report at the Prairie View A&M University Department of Public Safety office and it is available online.
Students can obtain the electronic version by visiting the university website and selecting the public safety link.
According to the report, burglary and theft have the largest number of incidents and present the biggest problem for officers on campus.
“Last semester, we went to every room in Phase I, II, and III and found out who was staying there over the break. It made the numbers drop dramatically. We still had break-ins but we also made arrests pertinent to those breaks in,” Webb said.
In an attempt to be more vigilant, the police department has invested in GEM cars, which are electrical cars that resemble a bug and Segways that allow officers to be more visible.
“The GEM cars don’t burn gas, are green friendly, can get on the interior of campus, and are quiet to allow us to make a special guest appearance, all while saving money on gas,” Webb said. “The Segways are easy to maneuver, can get in the ‘hard to reach spots,’ get to locations quickly, and allow us to look over crowds,” he continued.
Chief Algray Pettus asserts that crime on campus has a lot to do with students and the housing policy, which allows students to stay on campus over break.
“The acts aren’t random acts. We made two arrests in car burglaries and found out that one was a former student and the other a boyfriend of a former student. There are unauthorized people on campus,” Pettus said.
“We are currently investigating other acts and trying to return as much property as possible,” he said.
One victim of burglary was not pleased with the police department’s response and how they handled the case.
“I feel the police did not secure the campus well enough. After taking my report, they still haven’t called me. All of my roommate’s rooms were broken into. They didn’t take any fingerprints or anything. I’m so disappointed,” said junior Nicole Banks.
Webb said the students are part of the solution and encourages them to continue to help the police department.
“Students are valuable in disseminating information. They help us keep the campus safe. They keep their eyes open and know when something isn’t right,” Webb said.