As Pios headed back home in mid-November, the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) continued to keep an eye on activity taking place on or around the DU Campus.
According to Sergeant James Johnston, the DU Community Partnerships and Training Coordinator, “Winter break is always a very slow time for us so we use that time for training and proactive patrols.” He continues, “Compared to 10 years of data, our Division is busier than ever before. In one of our slowest months (December), our officers responded to just over 750 calls for service and recorded 5,617 field-based events.”
As the amount of incidents increases, DCS is proactively working to prevent more incidents. “As we are now in January, our department is proactively working to prevent instances of theft, which are, historically, at their highest rates during January through March.”
DCS has a plan to combat some of these incidents. “Campus Safety employs both models of Community oriented Policing-Services and Problem-Oriented Policing. This approach allows us to be data-driven and community-focused.” Johnston continues, “We also employ advanced data analysis techniques to both forecast (and therefore reduce incidents of crime before they occur) as well as understand the crimes that have taken place–identifying patterns and potential suspects.”
Sergeant Johnston reminded all community members “to be conscious of their belongings and avoid leaving property unattended, even for very short periods of time.”
He also wanted the community to know that, “Sexual assault occurrences tend to be highest in March and April, but we always are trying to take measures to prevent these.” He also said, “We particularly see forcible fondling and window peeping during the winter, usually because it gets dark early.”
Sergeant Johnston recommends that people “Close your blinds and stay in well lit areas when you’re walking around.”
“The (DCS) new shift schedule allows for officers to be in places they wouldn’t normally be. Officer now will be walking around buildings and on the grass to further patrol the area.”
Johnston urges the community to report incidents as soon as possible after it takes place and to contact DCS with any questions.
There will be a “SafeTalk” on Jan. 28 from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. in the Anderson Academic Commons Special Events Room. All are welcome and topics will be based on what the community brings up.
