November 9, 1998
The Columbus Division of Police, University Police and the Community Crime Patrol are planning a unique joint action to reduce burglaries in the neighborhoods around the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University during December. Burglaries in the University District normally increase substantially during the holiday break when thousands of students leave the area for home or other destinations.
In addition, university offices and neighborhood organizations are working cooperatively with the police in a public awareness campaign to encourage students and other residents to take their own prevention measures against break-ins.
At a news conference Monday (11/9), Columbus Police Commander Paul S. Denton announced that for the first time Columbus Police and University Police will implement their mutual aid pact as part of the burglary prevention action. "We are pleased to have the additional resources of our colleagues on the University Police force," Denton said.
University Police Chief Ron Michalec said the details of the implementation are still being worked out, but two University Police officers likely will patrol with Columbus Police officers in the predominantly student neighborhoods east of High Street throughout the second half of December. The patrols will attempt to stop burglaries, auto break-ins and related crimes.
The two police agencies and the Community Crime Patrol, which uses paid, trained civilian patrollers to report suspicious activities in the University District and various other Columbus communities, will cooperate in this action against burglaries. The Patrol Bureau and the Strategic Response Bureau of Columbus Police will use undercover and plainclothes officers to catch burglars and car thieves in the act.
"Our patrollers are additional eyes and ears for the police," explained Mark Hatch, executive director of the Community Crime Patrol. "Our office on East 15th Avenue can be a convenient meeting place for officers from both Columbus and University Police, and we can supply additional mountain bikes for street patrols."
At the instigation of Sgt. Terry Perrigo, who oversees second watch patrols in the University District, Columbus Police conducted a "burglary special" in the area last March during the university's spring break.
William H. Hall, chair of the Campus Partners Safety Coordinating committee, said the success of the effort last spring prompted his committee to ask the police agencies to plan a joint effort for this December. The committee, with advice from Ohio State students, then developed a burglary prevention campaign for students and other residents.
Joshua Mandel, president of Undergraduate Student Government, noted that student government has initiated a number of programs in recent years to promote safety both on- and off-campus. He expressed appreciation for this latest effort by the police agencies to work together to protect students' property and safety. "Students also have to take responsibility for securing their property against theft and break-ins," he said. "I am hopeful the public awareness campaign on burglary prevention will encourage students to take action."
The Campus Partners Safety Coordinating Committee has printed a flyer with a series of burglary prevention tips which will be widely distributed on- and off-campus. Copies will be available without charge in all University Libraries and will be given to apartment managers for distribution to their residents. In addition, a brief burglary prevention reminder will be sent by electronic mail to some 15,000 students living in the neighborhoods around Ohio State. The e-mail message will suggest that students obtain the burglary prevention tips from the University Police web site.