EDITORIAL: A new philosophy

Improved relations andImproved relations andstronger ties between copsImproved relations andstronger ties between copsand the community will leadImproved relations andstronger ties between copsand the community will leadto safer streets.Improved relations andstronger ties between copsand the community will leadto safer streets._____________________________ We hope most of these officers will get out of their cars to walk and ride bicycles on beats on the west end of campus, from 38th to 43rd streets between Market and Baltimore. Only by being more visible will these officers actually contribute to a decrease in crime against people and property in West Philadelphia. These new cops can't do their jobs alone, though. They need support and involvement from students, especially those living west of 40th Street. Although at least some of the new officers -- and the 10 newly redeployed Allied security guards -- will be out in the community, monitoring the security of off-campus houses and the alleys beside them, students must remain vigilant. We can be extra sets of eyes and ears, looking out for and reporting suspicious behavior. We can also get to know the cops in our section of the neighborhood, building up trust and letting them know we appreciate their efforts to serve and protect us in the face of increasing danger. And we can ask these officers for advice on how to make our homes less vulnerable to intruders, just as we have adopted many of their strategies for increasing personal safety. The Greek safe house plan announced last week is one good first step toward strengthening the bond between students and campus police officers. It shows that students care enough about our security to take proactive measures. We're all in this community together, for better or for worse. Cooperation with University Police -- assuming that Public Safety Managing Director Tom Seamon and Police Operations Director Maureen Rush do deploy their new officers visibly, in the area where they are most needed -- will only make us less anxious about living and learning in West Philadelphia.