Safety plan to be unveiled in two weeks

It will address 'all concerns' A draft of the University's "master plan" for security on campus and the surrounding community should be ready in about two weeks, according to Executive Vice President Jack Freeman. "It seeks to address all public safety issues," he said yesterday, adding that it will "state a philosophy of campus security." The plan seeks to address issues of off campus patrols, the use of new electronic security devices, and how to best deploy the manpower in the department, Freeman said. "We believe that it will address all of the campus security concerns that the community has had," he said. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said he is happy that the University administration has showed a large commitment to decreasing crime around campus. "That [the administration] requested such a plan to be brought forth speaks very highly of their commitment of wanting to make a difference," Kuprevich said last night. "They deserve, as the [new] administration, [to receive] our best estimate of what it will take to make a difference." Kuprevich said that the plan is an effort to "tie together all the pieces of what needs to be done to address not only the realities of crime but the perceptions people have of the West Philadelphia area." He said that he would not release any details of the plan until the administration had the option of seeing it first. And University President Judith Rodin said she would refrain from commenting until the plan is made public. The plan could address issues including deputization of University Police by the city, which would give officers clearer jurisdiction off-campus, and the possibility of creating a charging unit at University Police, which would allow the officers to interact directly with the District Attorney's office, circumventing the very congested Southwest Detectives. It may also discuss whether University Police officers should be allowed to carry semi-automatic guns, an option Philadelphia Police gives their officers. Kuprevich said he has been meeting with officials from the Philadelphia Police Department over some of the key proposals of the plan. "It is attempting to address the need for prevention on campus and to the extent possible, prevention in the community that surrounds campus," he said. "And that is why we are talking to Philadelphia, because it is obviously something that Penn cannot do for itself." Once the plan is drafted, Kuprevich said, there will be time for public input. It will not be set in stone until the community has a chance to comment. The master plan is being drafted at the behest of the administration amidst increasing concerns over violence at the University. These concerns were heightened in August when fifth year Mathematics graduate student Al-Moez Alimohamed was murdered near his off-campus apartment and Wharton senior Samir Shah was shot in the abdomen in front of his house, which lies in the shadow of the University's Veterinary School. While the plan is being developed, the University has stepped up its foot patrols in and around campus, and several new blue light phones have been installed. Officials have also worked to increase lighting in areas heavily populated by students.