Crime policy to emphasize consistent improvement

Among Amy Gutmann's upcoming initiatives as Penn's new president, public safety ranks as one of the most important.

"It's a bedrock priority that we keep crime low," Gutmann said. "I knew that, when I came to an urban city, crime would be a factor we would need to deal with on a day-to-day basis."

Her plan of attack will be much the same as that of her predecessor, Judith Rodin. Gutmann says she will stay the course, continuing the programs and procedures that led to a steady decrease in crime under the Rodin administration.

One of the instruments for implementing Gutmann's strategy is Commanding Officer of the University City District Police Substation Fred Carbonara, who applauded the current plan.

"There's always room for improvement, but she shouldn't regress," Carbonara said. "We have been making many strides. Crime has decreased in the four years I've been here."

In addition to maintaining current programs, the president plans to oversee several new public safety initiatives. One of the focuses involves research and the use of crime mapping and analytics to determine trends of urban legal violations such as juvenile crime.

The research will be conducted by graduate students as part of the recently launched Masters of Science program in Criminology.

According to Lawrence Sherman, director of Penn's Jerry Lee Center of Criminology, the research will bring both educational and tangible, practical benefits.

We are "developing ways for our students to work on crime-mapping projects," Sherman said, "while at the same time providing a practical, short-term solution in helping reduce crime on our streets."

Gutmann's plans also involve the further development of Rodin's safety and commercial initiatives in the area immediately east of 30th Street. Among other things, she intends to include a building on Chestnut Street with commercial retailers on the ground level and residential space on upper floors. The goal is to increase foot traffic in the area, and reduce the potential for crime in the gateway between Penn and Center City.

According to Gutmann, several safety initiatives will accompany the expansion.

"We have a program to improve lighting and other measures at the periphery of campus ... especially during late-night hours."

According to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush, closed-circuit video, emergency phones and the circulation of police officers and Spectaguards -- the on-campus private security officers -- are included in the plan.

The idea is for the area's safety accommodations to be "in unison with what we've already done on the west side of campus" over the last decade, Rush said.

Penn's technological advancements in West Philadelphia were recognized in 2003, when Security on Campus, Inc., a Valley Forge, Pa.-based organization that tracks crime statistics at colleges with private police forces, awarded Penn the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award.

"They're probably one of the most professional police departments in the country," Security on Campus Senior Vice President Daniel Carter said. "It's a combination of technological resources and a commitment to hiring high-quality personnel."

As was true during Rodin's tenure, Gutmann will take a secondary role in present and future developments, leaving much of the execution and decision-making up to the Division of Public Safety.

"I have great confidence in Maureen Rush and her ability to deal effectively with crime in collaboration with community and police force members," Gutmann said.

Also on Gutmann's agenda is the hiring of a new chief of police, a post that has been vacant since Tom Rambo's resignation on June 9.

According to both Gutmann and Rush, the position will be filled by early November at the latest. Until then, Rush said she anticipates no decreased efficiency within the police department.

Citing a relatively crime-free New Student Orientation week, Rush contended that "officers continue to remain professional and upbeat. They have continued to suppress crime and do what they've been asked to do." This article appeared as part of the "Amy Gutmann: Changing of the Guard" series.

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