New safety initiatives announced

Police to hire 10 new cops, installPolice to hire 10 new cops, install102 new blue light phones acrossPolice to hire 10 new cops, install102 new blue light phones acrosscampus; city cops to step up patrols and Ben Hammer University President Judith Rodin last night announced eight new initiatives to improve campus safety as part of a special town meeting organized in the wake of Wednesday morning's shooting and a rash of armed robberies near campus. Rodin spent two hours responding to questions posed by approximately 100 members of the University community, who expressed anger and concern about the incidents. She said newly assigned officers and cars from several different police forces will begin patrolling the area on and around campus immediately. "We will use every available resource of this University to identify [and] prosecute those intent on victimizing us," Rodin said. "We have got to send a message: 'Stay away from us here'." But even as Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner for Operations Rich Zapille and other Philadelphia and University Police representatives answered questions at the meeting, University Police received a report of another robbery near campus. At approximately 9:30 p.m., a man robbed Urban Outfitters of $100. The store, on Locust Street between 40th and 41st streets, is located less than a block away from where College senior Patrick Leroy was shot early Wednesday morning. In the incident at Urban Outfitters, the perpetrator handed an employee a written note demanding money, according to University Police Captain John Richardson. He said the man had a beard and mustache and was wearing a dark shirt, a three-quarters length coat and glasses. During last night's town meeting, Rodin announced that University Police will hire 10 new officers and deploy a special team of five veteran officers to focus on combatting violent crime between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. on "city streets adjacent to campus." She added that Philadelphia Police have committed to patrolling campus with three foot officers at night, a police car 24 hours a day and two more cars between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. "I guarantee you that the Philadelphia Police department wants to make this place as safe as it possibly can," Zapille said. "It bothers me that you can't walk on this campus and be safe." Additionally, Rodin said, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority will assign six additional police officers and a police car to patrol SEPTA stations around campus. And the University will assign 10 security guards to the area from 40th to 43rd streets between Chestnut and Baltimore streets. According to Rodin, the University will also use new security technology to improve security. She pledged that the University will begin installing blue light phones in 66 new locations by November 1. Roughly half of them will be placed between 40th and 43rd streets, in addition to 36 other previously planned locations. And the University will accelerate the planned installation of new security technologies in dormitories and buildings on campus. Rodin also pledged financial support for Penn Watch and said her administration would redouble its efforts to combat problems of homelessness, panhandling, poor trash collection, graffiti and slow economic development in the University area. "We will vigorously and aggressively go after businesses in our area that? are breaking the law and attracting those to campus who are intent on victimizing us," Rodin said. After Rodin's 15-minute speech, students voiced concerns and offered suggestions for campus security. Several complained about Penn Escort, decrying in particular the long wait time before a van picks up a student. "No student wants to use it when they know they that have to wait 20 to 25 minutes for a van to show up," College senior Kara Kaplan said. Penn Escort also does not drop off students at some residences or campus sorority and fraternity houses, students said. Rodin assured the audience that all of Penn Escort's routes would be evaluated. College senior Jill Weiner suggested having a Penn Escort schedule, similar to a city bus schedule, where vans pick up passengers at designated points at specified times. Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon noted in defense of Penn Escort that its vans made 4,000 runs last year. Students also questioned the effectiveness of the blue light phone system and the off-campus emergency phone number, 573-3333. Kaplan said after she was mugged off campus last year, she dialed the emergency number and was forwarded to an automated system. Another student said she experienced the same problem when using the off-campus number. Other students who spoke last night told Rodin the blue light phones -- both on and off campus -- do not always work, and also do not cover a large enough area. Seamon said Public Safety officials agree. "We don't think it's an extensive enough coverage, and because of new technology we now have the ability to place them further out of campus," he explained. University community members also expressed frustration that security was not increased after numerous armed robberies occurred earlier this month. "You could have done something a week and a half ago to really reduce the chance of Pat [Leroy, the College senior shot Wednesday] being shot," one student told Rodin. Another student said the recent crimes had her terrified of living in West Philadelphia for the first time in her four years at the University. "My Ivy League education isn't worth anything if I don't come out alive," the senior said.

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