1:08 p.m., Sept. 26, 2008----University of Delaware police and officers from the Newark and New Castle County police departments addressed a number of campus and community concerns during a public discussion held Thursday evening, Sept. 25, in Mitchell Hall.

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The meeting was held because of concern about a number of recent crimes against students, including assaults and home invasions.

In assuring the audience of the University's commitment to the safety of all students and staff, UD President Patrick Harker introduced the panel of police officers to the roughly 50 students and members of the UD and surrounding communities in attendance.

The panel included Albert “Skip” Homiak Jr., UD executive director of campus and public safety, Chief James Flatley, director of public safety at UD, Newark Police Chief Paul M. Tiernan, Col. Rick S. Gregory, chief of the New Castle County Police and StUDent Government Association President Teagan Gregory.

Although overall crime figures for 2008-09 are down compared to the same period last year, Homiak said that police departments have been stepping up their efforts to provide protection during times of increased criminal activity.

“Because crime knows no boundaries, we have been working with the Newark Police Department and other police departments in addressing these issues,” Homiak said. “It is very important that we have a united front in this area.”

The increased patrols by UD police, including bike and foot patrols, have been directed at problem areas, including Cleveland Avenue, where a recent home invasion took place.

“It is believed that one of the best ways to address crime in these areas is to have more of a police visibility on the street,” Homiak said. “We are paying officers overtime to work during critical nights and critical times, and we have placed a UD command post on Cleveland Avenue to support our foot patrols.”

Homiak also said that besides regular meetings among police chiefs and representatives from several police agencies, law enforcement officials are using intelligence-led policing that combines traditional policing methods with new crime-fighting technology.

“Thanks to President Harker and Scott Douglass, UD executive vice president, we will be adding 12 additional officers to the UD police department,” Homiak said. “Eight of these are currently in the New Castle County Police Academy, and four are training in the Delaware State Police Academy.”

Homiak also urged members of the UD and Newark communities to start paying attention to safety tips and to report anything suspicious in their residence areas and neighborhoods.

“Criminals get up each day and set out to commit crime. They are looking to prey on other people,” Homiak said. “Students need to take advantage of safety opportunities, including the escort service. Everybody needs to get involved.”

Newark Police Chief Paul Tiernan said that the city also has been placing plainclothes officers in unmarked cars on the street to look for suspicious activity, and that they have made more than 1,000 arrests since doing this.

“The best deterrent to street robbery is increased police patrols. We have traffic police and detectives working downtown on nights and weekends,” Tiernan said. “We like to flood certain areas between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.”

Teagan Gregory said that a particular concern among students is walking from the UD campus to off-campus locations, and he urged students to become aware of safety issues and ways to keep from becoming a victim of crime.

“Putting a stop to these crimes is going to take a full community effort,” Gregory said. “We need to take advantage of all the things available to us, including the student escort service.”

During the public comment portion of the program, Harker said that UD takes the issue of binge drinking and alcohol-related crimes very seriously.

“We see this as part of our educational mission. Binge drinking is not just a college problem, it is a serious national problem,” Harker said. “Our goal is to help students realize their dreams, and alcohol problems get in the way of young people fulfilling their dreams.”

Many of the crime-related concerns discussed by UD and community officials and police officers during the public discussion are also addressed in a letter to the UD community available online at [www.udel.edu/udaily/2009/sep/SafetylettertoCommunity.pdf].

Click here for a “Stay Safe” flyer listing telephone numbers for local police and UD's Public Safety Escort service, as well as safety tips.

For more information, go to [www.udel.edu/PublicSafety].

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Duane Perry