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As we enjoy warmer weather and prepare to close out the 2005 academic semester I would like all Penn community members, particularly students, to take a moment and think about your personal safety. This semester has been a challenging one in regards to safety and security for the Penn community. Violent crime has been on the rise throughout the City of Philadelphia, and unfortunately we have also experienced an up-tick in robberies in the off campus area of 40th to 43rd, Baltimore to Spruce.

I would like to give you a snapshot of how the Division of Public safety does everything possible to provide our community with a safe and secure environment. DPS is comprised of 157 staff members. We have a 100 person internationally accredited police department. Penn Police officers have full powers of arrest. We deploy them on foot, bicycle, motorcycle and mobile patrols on and off campus. We also have a full service Detective Bureau. We supplement the police with a national contract security company, Allied-Barton. Our security officers also patrol on and off campus on foot, bicycle and mobile patrols. We have 68 pan-tilt-zoom CCTV cameras on campus and on the city streets. Our PennComm personnel perform virtual video patrols via these cameras and alert the Penn police and Allied security officers of any irregular activities. We use our PennStat Crime Mapping program to immediately identify trends and pro-actively adjust our police and security deployment plans as necessary. We have increased the police and security officers' presence in the 40th-43rd - Baltimore to Spruce zone, which has been our most challenging area. We have also requested, and received enhanced patrols from the Philadelphia Police, Septa Police and the University City District's Safety Ambassadors.

Our public safety program has been very successful, in that between 2003-2004 we realized a 15% decrease in all crimes reported within our patrol area, which is; 30th to 43rd street, Market to Baltimore. Additionally, between 1996 and 2004 we had a 49% decrease in overall crime, and a 50% reduction for robberies reported within this same geographic area.

Crime is a formula: Motive + Opportunity = Crime. Our job, as a community, is to remove the opportunity from the formula. From now until May 16th we would like everyone to utilize the following safety tips: Use well traveled streets and walk with a buddy OR call us for a free 24X7 Walking Escort (215-898-WALK); use the mobile Transit service (215-898-RIDE); become familiar with the locations of Blue light E (Emergency) phones in areas where you normally walk. E Phones automatically contact our PennComm Communications Center and assistance is immediately dispatched to your location, which is automatically displayed in our center; and finally use alcohol responsibly.

So play it safe, become our safety partners and immediately report any suspicious behaviors or activities by calling 511 from any Penn building phone, any E phone or by calling 215-573-3333 from your cell phone or off campus phone.

Stop by our headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street to learn more about how you can enhance your safety or call 215-898-4481 to request a safety presentation for you and your friends.

A special farewell to the 2005 graduating class from the men and women of the Division of Public Safety. We wish you all good health, safety and success as you embark on the next chapter of your lives.

Maureen Rush is the Vice President for Public Safety of the University of Pennsylvania.

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