U. Police will not log crimes out of territory

Some argue the record should be a complete listing Crimes occurring outside of the jurisdiction of the University Police will no longer be reported in the crime log book, according to a recent internal memo written by Director of Police Operations Maureen Rush and obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian. This includes incidents involving University students and faculty members. The crime log book is a public record containing information on the past years' crime. It is updated every day and accessible to any member of the University community. It is also the primary source for the daily Crime Report in the DP. The memo cites concerns that reporting incidents out of the jurisdiction of University Police will "raise the already high anxieties of this community." It therefore orders officers to "not enter incidents [into the log book] that are beyond our patrol area and control." University Police have jurisdiction over an area which extends from the Schuylkill River to 43rd Street and from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue. Rush's memo focuses on an incident in last Tuesday's Crime Report in the DP, which reported the robbery of a University professor at 46th and Larchwood streets. The memo concludes that "supervisors will ensure that the crime log reflects only the crimes that we have jurisdiction over." But Rush said last night she does not think the decision will reduce student's knowledge of area security. "Nobody's hiding these crimes," she said. "What's happening in the greater community will still be reported in Almanac." But other officers did not share Rush's evaluation. "Students should know that it occurred -- regardless of where it took place," said an officer who wished to remain anonymous. "Let's face it, very few people read Almanac." The officers argued that crimes on streets like 44th Street should be logged with University Police. While the areas are technically out of University Police jurisdiction, they are still frequented by many members of the University community. "Just because it happened at 44th and Market, it doesn't need to be publicized?" the officer asked. "If I was the victim of a crime, and I didn't see it reported, I'd wonder, 'Am I not a part of this community?' " But according to the officer, a decision has to be made about the nature of the log. "Will it just cover crimes within our jurisdiction, or will it also report on all of the incidents that happen to members of the University community?" he asked. "It seems like the powers that be finally decided. "But not all decisions are wise ones," he concluded.