Do alumni get DPS Safety Reports?

[🏀]

If not, campus has been getting targeted lately.

Three robberies in the last week. One of the robberies a student had his jaw broken, the other two involved people driving by in cars demanding property with weapons.

I can't remember this type of string of crime in my four years.

[reesiecup210]

I've lived in the city my whole life so I'm used to putting up with some crime now and then, but this is getting a little ridiculous. I still feel safe here, but it does make me look over my shoulder more often. My friend got held up at gunpoint right behind my back door. This can't look good to prospective students.

[Warrior of Law]

I'm afraid the only option is to allow people to arm themselves, like most states currently allow.  One student putting up a fight may have a lasting impression on would-be thieves, rapists, and the like.

[muwarrior87]

it may be with the added policing in Avenues west and other surrounding areas, the crime is moving closer to campus.  My only question concerning the ones last night were why were these students out at 3 in the morning and not utilizing dps?

[Wareagle]

They seem to be rather brazen.  One of the robberies occurred a block away from the Avenues West police substation.

[MileHigh]

two students were actually abducted last week.  according to the article in the tribune, the students were taken to ATMs to withdraw money.  one student was left beaten in a gas station bathroom and another student was beaten and left up on the north side.  things have gotten bad this semester

[2TimeWarrior]

My only question concerning the ones last night were why were these students out at 3 in the morning and not utilizing dps?

AMEN.  Not to minimize what happened to these students, but you're in a big city with lots of crime, why make yourself an easy victim?!  DPS can only do so much and be in so many places.  They have great programs in place to keep the students safe, but the students have to use them.

Keep up the good work, Public Safety!

[🏀]

it may be with the added policing in Avenues west and other surrounding areas, the crime is moving closer to campus.  My only question concerning the ones last night were why were these students out at 3 in the morning and not utilizing dps?

Probably because LIMOs already stopped running.

[2TimeWarrior]

it may be with the added policing in Avenues west and other surrounding areas, the crime is moving closer to campus.  My only question concerning the ones last night were why were these students out at 3 in the morning and not utilizing dps?

Probably because LIMOs already stopped running.

DPS gives rides until 7am!

[spartan3186]

Doesn't matter if limos stopped running. Dps still has an afterhours shuttle service

[🏀]

Haha, have you ever tried to get one of those rides? If you have, you'd realize why those kids chose to walk.

Short story: One of our floor mates had a friend from out of town visiting. He were at a private residence after LIMOs had stopped running. He had to go back to take medicine or something (I really don't recall), so they called DPS to drive him home. 30 minutes later, the car came. Long story short, DPS thought he was too intoxicated to be taken back to the dorm, and he was taken to the hospital. After arguing in the car with the officer, they arrived at the hospital. Luckily, he wasn't a MU student so the friend ran away from the officer when arriving at the hospital.

[CrazyEcho]

I don't think students should have to call DPS while walking on campus at any time.  I would call if I was walking West/North of campus, but not on campus. 

We really need to get this safety issue improved, otherwise, all of the great PR and improvements the University has made in the last 5-10 years are going to be cancelled out. 

[🏀]

CrazyEcho, I can't entirely say where all the incidents have occurred, but I agree.

[mwbauer7]

I'm afraid the only option is to allow people to arm themselves, like most states currently allow.  One student putting up a fight may have a lasting impression on would-be thieves, rapists, and the like.

I'm a bit surprised there hasn't been more reaction to your comment WL. Not trying to stir anything up, but what would happen if that one student putting up a fight was shot (ala the incidence with the intruder at the party 2-3 years ago) and potentially killed?

Campus was up in arms when the shooting happened 2-3 years ago, can you imagine what it would be like if a student putting up a fight got killed?  Talk about plummeting application rates...

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

I'm afraid the only option is to allow people to arm themselves, like most states currently allow.  One student putting up a fight may have a lasting impression on would-be thieves, rapists, and the like.

I'm a bit surprised there hasn't been more reaction to your comment WL. Not trying to stir anything up, but what would happen if that one student putting up a fight was shot (ala the incidence with the intruder at the party 2-3 years ago) and potentially killed?

Campus was up in arms when the shooting happened 2-3 years ago, can you imagine what it would be like if a student putting up a fight got killed?  Talk about plummeting application rates...

The attempted homicides were almost successful without the students even being armed. The perpetrators knew then and know now automatically that students will be unarmed and an easy target for crime. This will continue unless there is more honest dialogue about the crime that happens on campus (like being honest about kidnappings) and students are equiped with the tools to respond in self-defense.

[CrazyEcho]

If it came to the point that a person has to arm themselves to attend Marquette . . . the school would basically be finished.  I think the reason no one responded is because it's such a terribly dumb idea. 

Marquette really needs to step-up safety measures around campus.  I think even more over-kill is proper in this instance.

[2TimeWarrior]

If it came to the point that a person has to arm themselves to attend Marquette . . . the school would basically be finished.  I think the reason no one responded is because it's such a terribly dumb idea. 

Marquette really needs to step-up safety measures around campus.  I think even more over-kill is proper in this instance.

I agree that safety has to be a priority and that increased patrols should be put into place.  My question is, how far do you go?  An officer at every corner?  A camera in every alley?  At some point we have to admit that only so much can be done.  Crime will happen in a urban campus environment.

[muwarrior87]

there already is a camera at almost every alley.  There is very little that happens on campus with dps not knowing about it. the only problem is campus is the academic buildings and up and down Wisconsin Avenue and Wells for a bit.  West of 16th or 17th, I'd bet only campus property and parts of Wisconsin Ave are seen by camera.

[2TimeWarrior]

there already is a camera at almost every alley.  There is very little that happens on campus with dps not knowing about it. the only problem is campus is the academic buildings and up and down Wisconsin Avenue and Wells for a bit.  West of 16th or 17th, I'd bet only campus property and parts of Wisconsin Ave are seen by camera.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that DPS is a extremely capable and under-appreciated organization. 
...and as a matter of fact, they do have cameras at locations off campus, 17th and State, 16th and Kilbourn, 23rd and Michigan, 18th and Clybourn, etc.  Stop in at their station some time and see the awesome video capabilities they have!
The money MU has spent on safety is tremendous and DPS does a great job of utilizing it to the benefit of the students.  There just needs to be a point where we accept that crime will happen.  I don't have a problem accepting it as long as I know that MU is doing everything reasonable to prevent it.

[muwarrior87]

I agree with you there, but whatever they can do, and however they can work with mpd to make sure some of our nation's future leaders in their respective fields are safe, i feel has to be done.

along with this though, the students need to show intelligence in their decisions and make sure that they know these problems are out there and that they need to be careful as well. it can't be entirely on the shoulders of dps and mpd. we have to make sure we hold ourselves accountable and aren't wandering to get taco bell alone at 1 in the morning and other things of this nature.

[2TimeWarrior]

I agree with you there, but whatever they can do, and however they can work with mpd to make sure some of our nation's future leaders in their respective fields are safe, i feel has to be done.

along with this though, the students need to show intelligence in their decisions and make sure that they know these problems are out there and that they need to be careful as well. it can't be entirely on the shoulders of dps and mpd. we have to make sure we hold ourselves accountable and aren't wandering to get taco bell alone at 1 in the morning and other things of this nature.

VERY WELL SAID

[MileHigh]

There is a Public Safety forum scheduled for next Monday March 10th.  It will be from 7:30-9:00pm in the AMU First Floor Lobby.  Chief Larry Rickard, Captain Russell Shaw, and Captain James C. Harpole will discuss what DPS and MPD are doing in response to the recent events on campus and answer questions from students.

[🏀]

There is a Public Safety forum scheduled for next Monday March 10th.  It will be from 7:30-9:00pm in the AMU First Floor Lobby.  Chief Larry Rickard, Captain Russell Shaw, and Captain James C. Harpole will discuss what DPS and MPD are doing in response to the recent events on campus and answer questions from students.

I'm guessing they'll just say use LIMOs when walking around. I took notice today since this thread has been started, I saw more PS cars in the daytime then I did from my walk back from class a couple minutes ago... let's just step up the presence when the times are bad.

[MileHigh]

There is a Public Safety forum scheduled for next Monday March 10th.  It will be from 7:30-9:00pm in the AMU First Floor Lobby.  Chief Larry Rickard, Captain Russell Shaw, and Captain James C. Harpole will discuss what DPS and MPD are doing in response to the recent events on campus and answer questions from students.

I'm guessing they'll just say use LIMOs when walking around. I took notice today since this thread has been started, I saw more PS cars in the daytime then I did from my walk back from class a couple minutes ago... let's just step up the presence when the times are bad.

Thats always their typical response...use LIMOs, escorts, walk with friends, blue lights etc...I actually noticed a decent number of MPD cars lately too, especially up near Mashuda and 2040s

[chapman]

There is a Public Safety forum scheduled for next Monday March 10th.  It will be from 7:30-9:00pm in the AMU First Floor Lobby.  Chief Larry Rickard, Captain Russell Shaw, and Captain James C. Harpole will discuss what DPS and MPD are doing in response to the recent events on campus and answer questions from students.

I'm guessing they'll just say use LIMOs when walking around. I took notice today since this thread has been started, I saw more PS cars in the daytime then I did from my walk back from class a couple minutes ago... let's just step up the presence when the times are bad.

That would be my guess too.  But four incidents and three very close to campus, the other a block away from the police outpost is something to be concerned about.  I know they preach the LIMOs and everything constantly, but it's not working and won't until there are more problems.  But what else can they do to protect the hundreds of students that live farther away than Campus Town?  Anyone have suggestions?

Living a decent hike from campus, here are some things I can think of:
-I agree with marqptm, maybe it's just me, but it used to seem that every other car on the street at night was DPS or MPD, now it seems like you see more in the day.
-Put some more or better street lights up.  It's very poorly lit anywhere that isn't Wisconsin or Wells and reasonably close to campus at night.
-I'd be willing to bet at least one of the victims of these robberies was an easy target because they were struggling to walk, not because they were drunk, but because so much of the sidewalks in the areas of the robberies is covered with ice.  All week I've seen kids slipping and falling over, or walking in the middle of the street because sidewalks are too slippery.  Isn't it a law that the owners of these properties are to clear their sidewalks?
-Try to make the LIMOs more convienient for students.  I have a friend at 2040 who called a LIMO to go to the library, waited a half hour for it to show up, then drove around for close to another half hour before getting dropped off.  Until a kid gets robbed, they are going to walk 10 minutes before they ride in a LIMO for an hour.  Why can't a couple LIMOs run on set routes?  If one LIMO constantly ran down 16th-18th between Michigan and State and another constantly ran up and down Kilbourn between 13th and 21st and they stopped at nearly every corner students could know when to expect a LIMO, jump in, and get a safe ride. 
-Every time I see the Student Safety Patrol, they're walking on Wisconsin by the academic buildings.  Tell the kids to go where they're needed.  When I'm walking by the Union and want to go to the library I really don't need their services, but if I saw them on 16th and Wells I guarantee I'd ask for company for a couple blocks to get home.