Letter to the editor: Inaccurate Editorial About Drexel Public Safety
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Ed-Op
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With regard to crime statistics reporting, you reference the Metro article that ran September 17, 2007. The numbers reported by the Metro are deceiving because the reporter compared Temple University's Clery Act statistics against Drexel's and the University of Pennsylvania's PA Uniform Crime Reporting Act statistics. The federal and state reporting requirements have different criteria and timetables.
In addition to reporting crime on-campus as mandated by the federal Clery Act, Drexel reports crime in our extended patrol area, which extends north to Spring Garden Street and west to 36th Street. As of 9/5/07, armed robberies have dropped on campus by 75% compared to the same period last year. Armed robberies for previous years were: 2005 - (10), 2006 - (8) and 2007 - (2).
Drexel also works closely with the University of Pennsylvania Police, University City Philadelphia Police Special Services District, SEPTA Police, and Conrail Police, which patrol areas including the west, south and east boarders of the Drexel campus. Drexel maintains one of the largest networks of security cameras in University City, emergency blue light call stations have been installed throughout our campus and boarding neighborhood, and our security officers provide walking escorts to students during the late evenings when requested.
It is important for the Drexel community to know that representatives from the staff, Faculty Senate, USGA and The Triangle has been invited to meet with all of the top candidates being interviewed for the position of senior associate vice president of public safety and to give their feedback. All the candidates have had extensive law enforcement experience and it's the administration's desire to hire the best qualified person sooner than later.
Drexel's Department of Public Safety currently operates at or above industry standards as confirmed by an outside campus safety consultant. Drexel is constantly looking at ways to improve its services, including safety, and in that vein the University is reviewing several options for DPS programs and staffing. That review will include consideration of converting some staff to officers with powers of arrest as outlined in Pennsylvania statutes.
James Katsaounis
Executive Director
Communications and Marketing
Student Life and Administrative Service
In addition to reporting crime on-campus as mandated by the federal Clery Act, Drexel reports crime in our extended patrol area, which extends north to Spring Garden Street and west to 36th Street. As of 9/5/07, armed robberies have dropped on campus by 75% compared to the same period last year. Armed robberies for previous years were: 2005 - (10), 2006 - (8) and 2007 - (2).
Drexel also works closely with the University of Pennsylvania Police, University City Philadelphia Police Special Services District, SEPTA Police, and Conrail Police, which patrol areas including the west, south and east boarders of the Drexel campus. Drexel maintains one of the largest networks of security cameras in University City, emergency blue light call stations have been installed throughout our campus and boarding neighborhood, and our security officers provide walking escorts to students during the late evenings when requested.
It is important for the Drexel community to know that representatives from the staff, Faculty Senate, USGA and The Triangle has been invited to meet with all of the top candidates being interviewed for the position of senior associate vice president of public safety and to give their feedback. All the candidates have had extensive law enforcement experience and it's the administration's desire to hire the best qualified person sooner than later.
Drexel's Department of Public Safety currently operates at or above industry standards as confirmed by an outside campus safety consultant. Drexel is constantly looking at ways to improve its services, including safety, and in that vein the University is reviewing several options for DPS programs and staffing. That review will include consideration of converting some staff to officers with powers of arrest as outlined in Pennsylvania statutes.
James Katsaounis
Executive Director
Communications and Marketing
Student Life and Administrative Service
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Z
posted 10/02/07 @ 12:39 PM EST
Actually Drexel Public services is quite broken. When something happens, they are always quick to send students away and to send them to other outlets of the university rather than solve the problem, even when it is their department's job to actually solve things. (Continued…)
Jordan
posted 10/05/07 @ 1:01 AM EST
Do you have any basis for all of these claims, or are you just expressing one of the many misconceptions about the university?
Not Z
posted 10/05/07 @ 3:24 PM EST
Uh, Z ... You're quick to make blanket statements. How about posting some EXAMPLES. Also, if you know so much about Public Safety, have you tried telling someone in the UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION about it?
Robert
posted 10/06/07 @ 12:24 PM EST
If you have had specific interactions with Public Safety where you felt they weren't fulfilling their responsibilities you should contact both the USGA and Drexel Administration and let them know the facts and specifics of the situation. (Continued…)
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