As in any community, how safe that community is can depend on the residents that live there. Residents can simply report crimes as they occur or they can educate themselves in ways to prevent crimes from occurring in the first place. The University Police Department would like to be partners with the University community in taking a proactive approach through crime prevention. The University Police Department has developed and presented programs on many subjects relating to crime and crime prevention. The department’s hall liaison officers present many of these programs. Students and hall staff should contact the University Police Department, or their hall liaison officer, if they have concerns about safety in and around campus.
One area of concern, not just at UW Oshkosh but nationally, involves underage drinking and/or binge drinking. Often, drinking is thought to be part of college life. What is often forgotten is the vandalism, civil disobedience, and unwanted sexual encounters that can and do occur as a result of drinking. The University’s AODA Task Force committee examines and discusses the current attitudes and practices regarding drinking on college campuses. Officer Brad Hanson is a member of this committee.
One program that the University Police Department participates in is the Healthy Choices program. Officers of the department provide information about fines and penalties associated with liquor law violations. They also talk about some of the consequences encountered as a result of underage drinking. Another program the department participates in is the “Options” program. The Options program is offered, through Winnebago County, to first time offenders of the State’s liquor laws. The program is not mandatory however, those who successfully complete the program will have their underage possession/consumption citation dismissed. Both programs are designed to educate students to make wise decisions relating to alcohol use.
As part of the crime prevention program the University
Police patrol the campus on foot and on bicycle in addition to vehicle patrols.
The goal of the University Police Department’s foot and bicycle patrol is to
make the officers more accessible to the campus community and allow the
department to better patrol university property. Bicycle patrols are conducted, weather
permitting, when shift staffing allows without neglecting regular patrol
duties. Officers perform foot patrols year around. Currently there are three officers assigned
to the bike patrol and all officers are assigned patrol shifts on foot. The bicycle patrol unit has had a positive
effect on the department. It gives the
department a higher degree of visibility on campus and aids in its crime
prevention efforts. Bike patrol officers
also present bicycle safety and theft prevention programs as well as make the
required City of Oshkosh bike licenses available for students.
The UW Oshkosh Police Department monitors the heat, smoke
and fire alarm systems for all buildings on campus. The department also monitors seven campus
facilities securing cash, computers, artwork, retail, other high value items
and controlled access, with an integrated security system. These systems are monitored by UW Oshkosh
Police Officers, Police Communication Officers, and Community Service Officers
24/7.
The integrated security system is accomplished through a
system of alarms, sensors, and electronic devices which report to a central
receiver located at the University Police Department. This system is augmented by facility building
checks conducted by the police officers.
When an intrusion alarm is received at the central receiver UW Oshkosh
Police Department officers respond to the facility.
UW Oshkosh Police officers then complete any required follow-up report, arrests, or investigation.
The alarm station has recently been upgraded
Due to the remodeling of Gruenhagen and
Scott Hall.
To keep abreast of needed alarm system updates and to make
recommendations for improving our system UW Oshkosh Police Officer Trent Morgan
was assigned as the department alarm specialist in August of 1997. Officer Morgan is a Field Training Officer
and conducts alarm training with employees of alarmed facilities and the
officers. The training has resulted in
increased safety for the officers and employees and reduced false alarms. Officer Morgan’s duties include control of
access codes, maintaining department records, monitoring the maintenance
contract and conducting on-site surveys to determine areas in which existing
countermeasures do not adequately address the threat or vulnerability of a
facility. Officer Morgan makes
recommendations to the facility director, Police Chief and the alarm vendor to
insure upgrades are completed in a timely manner. This program has resulted in a reduction of
false alarms and better control and safety of alarm premises.
The University Police Department’s officers hope to make the university community a safe environment to live and work through education and awareness.
In 1998 the UW Oshkosh Police Department along with the Department of Residence Life started the Residence Hall Police Liaison program. The program was developed to encourage a better working relationship with hall staff and the students that reside in the residence halls. University Police officers are assigned on a voluntary basis. They are then assigned to the halls that requested to participate in the program. In general the hall liaison officers became a "part-time" members of the hall staff.
Officers England, and Hanson are currently assigned to the
program. Officer Kemp is also working
with the two officers as a fill-in for vacancies and work scheduling. The
officers attend hall staff meetings and hall government meetings whenever
possible. The officers also spoke to a
variety of groups on a variety of topics ranging from alcohol/drugs to campus
safety and sexual assault.
Again this year Officer England and Officer Kemp assisted
Scott Hall with the annual Lincoln School Trick or Treating program and
assisted in the training of the Community Advisors for Residence Life. The officers were once again involved in the
hiring process for Residence Hall and Assistant Residence Hall Directors.. This past year the officers assisted in
hiring two Residence Hall Directors and one Assistant Residence Hall Director.
Once again this past year the department was active in the
Rape Aggression Defense (RAD)
System. The Rape Aggression Defense
System is a program of realistic, self-defense tactics and techniques.
It is a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention,
risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on
defense training. In March 2003 with the
assistance of the Violence Against Women Grant that the university received in
2002, the department was able to send three officers and one faculty member to
the Basic RAD Self Defense course held in Des Moines, Iowa. The instructor course is 30 hours in length
where the instructors are taught the philosophies and techniques of the RAD
systems. Currently the three
instructors from the department are Officers Laura England, Robin West and
Stanley Zitek along with Dr Elizabeth Cannon, Director of the Women's
Center.
Along with the community
involvement the officers continued to team up with the Dean of Students and
Peer Resource Organization (PRO) to promote and educate on alcohol awareness
and drug abuse that occurs in the campus community. The officers used Drunk Buster goggles that
were purchased with a grant and developed an interactive program where the
audience is allowed to experience being intoxicated without actually drinking
any alcoholic beverages. The participation level is very high and positive. In
fact every year we are requested to do at least 15 to 20 programs a year that
involve the Drunk Buster goggles and playing the Twister.
The officers also
participated in the fall and mid year training for the new and experienced
Community Advisors (CA). They trained
the CA’s in the familiarizations of drug use and alcohol issues that they may
encounter while in the residence halls. This year Officer England presented a
special program on Personal Safety Issues involving Community Advisors. This program was put on with the cooperation
of Resident Hall Director Amy Dyer and provided a hands on approach on how to
stay safe when encountering individuals under the influence of alcohol and
drugs. The program was packed with both
new and returning Community Advisors.
The officers were also active members of the Selection Committees for
hiring new Residence Hall and Assistant Residence Hall Directors.
The past year was again very
active and busy for the hall liaison officers. They presented programs to hall residents and educational
classes. They made themselves available to hall staff and residents to hear
questions and concerns along with attending hall meetings and being proactive in the issues that effect
the quality of life in the residence halls.
The University Police
Department is an active participant in the Violence Against Women Grant Program
on Campus. The Police Department actively participates as a member of the
Campus Violence Prevention Project. As part of the commitment to the goals of
this project the University Police have revised practices and policies to
include Sexual Assault (Fox Valley’s SART standards), Domestic and Relationship
Violence, and Stalking protocols. This
commitment is also demonstrated through the Departments involvement with three
instructors for the Rape Aggression Defense Training (RAD).