DPS interviewing for head of campus police force
Josh Kurtz
Issue date: 7/25/08 Section: News
"The USGA is very excited that Drexel has taken the necessary steps to implement a police force. Public safety is a major concern on everyone's mind, and this is definitely a giant step in better protecting our students," Smith wrote in an e-mail.
Smith is also pleased that USGA will be involved in the selection process for the new director of Police Operations.
"After hearing students' concerns, USGA had lobbied the previous public safety administration, but our voice was not heard. It is very exciting that not only the Drexel police force is being implemented but that we are able to play a role in the process," Smith wrote in an e-mail.
The campus police force will be under the dominion of Drexel Public Safety. Unlike current Public Safety security, the officers will be armed and able to make arrests.
"I would probably feel better about security people if they had that kind of [police] training," Michael Harris-Peyton, a sophomore majoring in English, said.
Current Public Safety officers are contracted through AlliedBarton Security. In addition, Drexel contracts two uniformed Philadelphia Police Officers. Marked Philadelphia Police cars also patrol campus.
Ceccanecchio said the police force would serve as another layer of the Drexel Public Safety program.
"It's nice that [Public Safety is] addressing our security concerns," Anthony Chu, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said.
"It's best that we have a full-time police force like most other campuses," Evan Wang, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said.
According to a report from the Department of Justice, 74 percent of four-year colleges with at least 2,500 students had a campus law enforcement agency featuring sworn personnel.
According to the report, colleges that currently employ a campus police force include the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.
Drexel works closely with the Penn and Temple police departments, as well as the Philadelphia Police, "on a myriad of issues," Ceccanecchio said. Drexel is not working with these departments on the hiring of the Director of Police Operations, according to Ceccanecchio.
In addition to their work in helping to plan and organize a campus police force, Drexel Public Safety is trying to educate the University community about Public Safety's other security capabilities and services, Ceccanecchio added.
"Education and awareness of the Drexel community is something that we are constantly trying to do and improve," Ceccanecchio said.
This story has been corrected.
Smith is also pleased that USGA will be involved in the selection process for the new director of Police Operations.
"After hearing students' concerns, USGA had lobbied the previous public safety administration, but our voice was not heard. It is very exciting that not only the Drexel police force is being implemented but that we are able to play a role in the process," Smith wrote in an e-mail.
The campus police force will be under the dominion of Drexel Public Safety. Unlike current Public Safety security, the officers will be armed and able to make arrests.
"I would probably feel better about security people if they had that kind of [police] training," Michael Harris-Peyton, a sophomore majoring in English, said.
Current Public Safety officers are contracted through AlliedBarton Security. In addition, Drexel contracts two uniformed Philadelphia Police Officers. Marked Philadelphia Police cars also patrol campus.
Ceccanecchio said the police force would serve as another layer of the Drexel Public Safety program.
"It's nice that [Public Safety is] addressing our security concerns," Anthony Chu, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said.
"It's best that we have a full-time police force like most other campuses," Evan Wang, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said.
According to a report from the Department of Justice, 74 percent of four-year colleges with at least 2,500 students had a campus law enforcement agency featuring sworn personnel.
According to the report, colleges that currently employ a campus police force include the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.
Drexel works closely with the Penn and Temple police departments, as well as the Philadelphia Police, "on a myriad of issues," Ceccanecchio said. Drexel is not working with these departments on the hiring of the Director of Police Operations, according to Ceccanecchio.
In addition to their work in helping to plan and organize a campus police force, Drexel Public Safety is trying to educate the University community about Public Safety's other security capabilities and services, Ceccanecchio added.
"Education and awareness of the Drexel community is something that we are constantly trying to do and improve," Ceccanecchio said.
This story has been corrected.
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