University Police carry educational mission

This is the eighth in a series of department profiles that will be featured in News Pulse throughout the year.

By Sharon Feder '06

University Police aims to keep the New Paltz campus safe as well as to educate the campus and community about what they can do to help.

Chief Raymond Bryant said his department is a law enforcement agency oriented to serving the needs of the community, which is both on and off campus, because "students and faculty live on-and off campus," he explained. University Police also work with the Town of New Paltz Police to assist with any problems in the village.

Composed of 17 officers, four lieutenants, an investigator, one civilian dispatch, a chief and an assistant to the chief, there are four to five officers per shift who patrol the campus in cars and on bicycles and All Terrain Vehicles. Bryant said that they respond to a range of calls -- from the most serious assault to petty larceny. In addition, they participate in "park, walk and talks," where they walk around and talk to people on campus.

Jen Wait, assistant to the chief, said that communicating with students is very important, and that University Police implements a community-oriented approach to policing on campus, as well. They hold programs in the residence halls, speak to students at orientation, sponsor RAD (a women's self-defense course) and run several other programs that enable the officers to interact with students.

By doing this, "You get to really know your students," Wait added.

In addition to teaching the RAD course, Wait trains other RAD instructors and serves as the co-director of RAD in New York state and plans to expand the RAD program to local high schools.

University Police also runs the escort service on campus. The service, which takes about 100 to 150 calls a night during the school year, offers students rides throughout campus, as well as walking escorts.

Wait, who explained that all the officers are highly trained and duly-sworn law enforcement professionals, believes their efforts have contributed to a safer campus.

"I do believe people feel safe because they know we have real police and not security guards," she said.

JULY 18, 2005
Volume 3, Issue 14

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