Over 100 police officers work to keep Penn safe

The Division of Public Safety is charged with taking care of both campus and the surrounding West Philadelphia area. With a 108-officer police force, a full investigative unit and departments devoted to victim support, security services and fire and occupational safety, Penn's Division of Public Safety holds primary responsibility for law enforcement on and around Penn's campus. As the largest private police force in the state, the University of Pennsylvania Police Department 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. Last February, Penn Police also extended their patrol area to include the Presbyterian Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania Health System at 39th Street and Powelton Avenue, the University City Science Center buildings on Market Street from 34th to 38th streets and a property at 4101 Woodland Avenue now owned by the Nursing Education department. Two years ago, the Division of Public Safety relocated from two buildings in Hamilton Village to a 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. Though they are a private force, the University Police have the same enforcement powers as any municipal police squad, with full authority to make arrests for criminal violations. They also just assumed additional powers under a new arrest protocol agreement with the city, which extends them full investigative rights for all crimes committed within their jurisdiction area. And despite a few high-profile incidents over the past few years -- including a late-night attack on a female undergraduate in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall in November 1998 and the highly-publicized shooting outside of the Palestra in March 1998 which saw one man killed and three others -- including a Penn student -- injured, crime on and around campus continues to fall. This year's winter break had the lowest number of crimes in six years, with just 58 incidents being reported. Last year, 73 crimes were reported over winter break. Another 25 Philadelphia Police Department officers, two sergeants and a lieutenant were added to help patrol the extended campus area last spring, when a PPD substation opened 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 looking for possible crime and helping residents and visitors find there way around the area. And while all of the changes in recent years have added to a generally more secure campus environment, many students say there are still reasons to be cautious. "I feel safe because nothing has happened to me," Engineering junior Jennifer Orloff said. "But I do know people who have had some problems, so I think it's important to be cautious." Wharton senior Alicja Nalewajek agreed that caution is important but attributed perceptions of crime in the area to outdated stereotypes. "Lately it's been pretty quiet, and I really don't worry about crime that much," she said. "Maybe West Philadelphia is just stereotyped for having a lot of crime." Officers patrol the area on foot, on bicycles, in cars and in new four-wheel-drive vehicles. Made up of Special Services, Security Services, Fire and Occupational Safety and the University Police, the Division of Public Safety is headed by Thomas Seamon. Seamon, a former Philadelphia deputy police commissioner, came to Penn in 1995. His top deputies include University Police Chief Maureen Rush, Security Services Director Stratis Skoufalos and Interim Special Services Director Patricia Brennan. 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 involve individuals with no affiliation to the University.