Penn Police patrol from Schuylkill to 43rd Street

The Division of Public Safety has seen crime decrease overall for the area around campus during the past four years. With a 102-officer strong police force patrolling University City, the Division of Public Safety is experiencing the lowest crime rate they've had in four years. University Police -- the largest private police force in the state -- works in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police Department to patrol the area spanning west to 43rd Street, south to Woodland Avenue, east to 30th Street and north to Market Street. They also patrol a small area north of campus near Presbyterian Hospital. Last January, the Division of Public Safety moved from two buildings in Superblock to its new, state-of-the-art headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street. The change was aimed at consolidating public safety services in a site capable of being fitted for the latest technologies but still close to campus. Despite a few high-profile incidents over recent years, crime on and around campus has been falling. In 1997, robberies dropped 37 percent and thefts decreased 14 percent, despite a 12 percent rise in aggravated assaults. Another 25 PPD officers, two sergeants and a lieutenant will be added to help patrol the extended area this spring when a police substation opens at 3940-42 Chestnut Street as part of the new University City District headquarters. The UCD -- a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in University City -- also has 40 yellow-jacketed safety ambassadors who patrol University City, acting as eyes and ears for police. According to College senior Sara Gault, Public Safety's efforts have made a tangible difference. "I think it's gotten a lot better since I started here," she said. "It seems like there's more people around" on the streets. Officers patrol the area on foot, on bikes and in cars. Wharton senior Dan Goodman agreed that safety on campus has improved, saying that he feels students are safe as long as they know what they're doing and don't take unnecessary risks. The University Police have full enforcement powers with the authority to make arrests for criminal violations. Recently, they have been filling out the necessary paperwork to give the Penn Police the ability to process arrests inside the department, instead of having to take all suspects to Philadelphia's 18th District stationhouse at 55th and Pine streets. Made up of Special Services, Security Services, Fire and Occupational Safety and the University Police, the division is run by Tom Seamon, who serves as vice president of Public Safety. Seamon, a former Philadelphia deputy police commissioner, came to Penn in 1995. Seamon's top deputies include University Police Chief Maureen Rush, Security Director Stratis Skoufalos and Special Services Director Susan Hawkins. Though Public Safety is part of the University, it serves everyone in its patrol area and is involved in investigations of all incidents on and around campus, even those that do not involve a University student or staff member.