Spring Break
Letters to the editor: DPS Continues to Lack Progress in Serving the Community
Issue date: 5/9/08 Section: Ed-Op
Dear Editor,
I am a 2006 alumnus who jumped on the opportunity to grab my favorite paper, The Triangle, when I passed through campus on May 4. I read the whole paper, but one article stood out in my mind, "DPS officer fired after alleged assault."
When I read the article I was not shocked to have read such a headline, but disappointed in the article's twist to prove that somehow this incident proved that the public safety office is making gains in protecting our students.
I am sorry, but the incident shows how the department has not made progress over the years. It shows that the department continues to hire people who are not suited to protect and serve the students.
Let me point out that this is not an isolated incident. In my years at Drexel there have been many instances in which public safety officers have failed to provide the appropriate service to the community and the students. Examples include the officer that fell asleep at post and had to be woken up by students during a fire drill in Bossone, the many officers who slept at the front desk of the residence halls and the failure to come prepared to perform life-saving CPR and defibrillation to a student in need.
All of those incidents could have been prevented if there was progress at any point in my four years at Drexel. The focus should be on a more selective hiring process with more intense training. Quick response is just one of the many qualities our public safety officers should possess. We need them to be able to respond to and protect students when they arrive, not just administrators. We need them to be on shift, on post and focused on their job, not sleeping or hanging out somewhere other than their post.
I look forward to the day when Drexel makes the transition to an armed police force, because it is the only way they will make "strong progress" in protecting Drexel's students.
Jessica DeLisa
Communication major, '06
I am a 2006 alumnus who jumped on the opportunity to grab my favorite paper, The Triangle, when I passed through campus on May 4. I read the whole paper, but one article stood out in my mind, "DPS officer fired after alleged assault."
When I read the article I was not shocked to have read such a headline, but disappointed in the article's twist to prove that somehow this incident proved that the public safety office is making gains in protecting our students.
I am sorry, but the incident shows how the department has not made progress over the years. It shows that the department continues to hire people who are not suited to protect and serve the students.
Let me point out that this is not an isolated incident. In my years at Drexel there have been many instances in which public safety officers have failed to provide the appropriate service to the community and the students. Examples include the officer that fell asleep at post and had to be woken up by students during a fire drill in Bossone, the many officers who slept at the front desk of the residence halls and the failure to come prepared to perform life-saving CPR and defibrillation to a student in need.
All of those incidents could have been prevented if there was progress at any point in my four years at Drexel. The focus should be on a more selective hiring process with more intense training. Quick response is just one of the many qualities our public safety officers should possess. We need them to be able to respond to and protect students when they arrive, not just administrators. We need them to be on shift, on post and focused on their job, not sleeping or hanging out somewhere other than their post.
I look forward to the day when Drexel makes the transition to an armed police force, because it is the only way they will make "strong progress" in protecting Drexel's students.
Jessica DeLisa
Communication major, '06
Be the first to comment on this story