The department's crime prevention services program saw a major change in 1999. In March, the Campus Community Liaison Program, started in 1990, was terminated. The Oshkosh Police Department decided to replace the liaison program with the Community Orientated Policing, or COPs, program. Officer Jim Curtis, the liaison officer, returned to patrol duties and Officer Dave Johnson, a former UW Oshkosh Police Officer, became the COPS officer assigned to the campus area. While not assigned solely to the campus, Officer Johnson still maintains the office Curtis had in Gruenhagen Hall. Officer Brad Hanson was named the Crime Prevention Services Coordinator for UW Oshkosh Police Department. Both officers are trained crime prevention officers and are dedicated to a proactive approach to reduce crime on and around the campus.
A new addition to the crime prevention services was the University Police Department's participation in the Healthy Choices classes on campus. Healthy Choices is a class for students found in violation of the State's liquor laws. Beginning with the fall semester, Officers from UW Oshkosh Police Department, along with Officer Johnson, provide information about penalties and fines associated with liquor law violations.
The UW Oshkosh Police Department still offers a variety of crime prevention programs to present to the "on campus" community. A popular program was the "mock" house party. In the mock house parties, students are gathered at a residence hall where non-alcoholic beverages are served. Officers respond to the gathering as if alcoholic beverages are being served. Students get a hands on experience of what it would be like to be caught at an underage drinking party.
In an effort to gather information and educate students on the perils of underage drinking Officer Robin West created a window display in Reeve Union for alcohol awareness week that featured underage drinking statistics and its relationship to crime on campus. She also created a drinking/marijuana usage survey for the purpose of comparing the abuse of drugs and alcohol on this campus with other campuses. The survey asked about sexual assault experiences as well as other assault experiences while intoxicated. The survey demonstrated that the more drinks a person had, the more susceptible they were to violence, contacts with the police and/or injuries.
The department participated in a program on sexual assault that was sponsored by the Womens Advocacy council and the Campus Acquaintance Rape Education organization. The panel featured Officer Robin West, Dean of Students Sue Yowell, Deputy District Attorney Tom Gritton and a member of the C.A.R.E program.
The officers of the University Police Department remain dedicated to work with the students, faculty, and staff in making the university community a safe and enjoyable environment to live, work, and receive an education.
RESIDENCE HALL LIAISON PROGRAM
In 1998 the UW Oshkosh Police Department along with Department Residence Life started the Residence Hall Liaison program. The program was developed to encourage a better working relationship with hall staff and students that reside in the residence halls.
Officers are assigned on a voluntary basis to halls that request to participate in the program. Along with developing better working relationships, the officers participate in hall functions, attend hall government meetings, hall staff meetings and present programs on personal safety. This year the program was expanded to Webster, Breese , North Scott and South Scott Hall. The officers that participated were Kathy Johnson (Webster Hall) Adam Stublaski (Breese Hall), Stanley Zitek and Laura England (N. Scott and S. Scott Hall).
In the up coming year we are hoping to expand the program to other halls and encourage more involvement among all the officers and the respective halls. The program has opened lines of communication between the department, hall staff and residents. Successful programs such as Healthy Choices, Mock Party Bust and personal safety were held. The department received excellent reviews regarding the program from hall staff and residents.