The December home invasion and sexual assault at 44th and Spruce streets sparked debate about security west of Penn's campus.
But as Penn expands east toward Center City, the Division of Public Safety is planning for the new security challenges it will face on the other side of campus.
In 2006, the University unveiled a 30-year campus development plan which laid out plans for Penn's physical expansion to the east.
In response, DPS is collaborating with the Department of Facilities and Real Estate Services about the possibility of creating a Penn Police mini-station on the eastern edge of the Penn Police Patrol Zone.
The proposed mini-station would be in addition to Penn Police's headquarters at 4040 Chestnut St.
The Patrol Zone runs from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue north to south, and from 30th to 43rd streets east to west.
The cornerstone of the expansion east toward Center City is Penn's acquisition of the U.S. Postal Service's Philadelphia facility - a 24-acre parcel of land on the western edge of the Schuylkill River.
Whereas in the past the area between Penn and the banks of the Schuylkill River has been predominantly industrial, the coming years will see the University's eastern border transformed into a mix of academic and research buildings, athletics fields and parks, retail shops and office towers.
The first stage in this will be the completion of Penn Park - a new urban park on 31st Street between Walnut and South streets - which is scheduled for later this year.
DPS is conscious of the new security dimension this surge in activity to the east of campus will create, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said.
"We are looking at each development east of campus as it happens," said Rush. "We will monitor closely the population growth to see if we need to make any human resources adjustments."
In addition to the heightened activity to the east of campus that the park will generate, increasing numbers of students and staff will soon live in the area between campus and Center City.
The University is planning a new 400-bed residence hall at Chestnut Street between 33rd and 34th Streets, and private buildings such as Locust Point and Locust on the Park, both located on eastern bank of the Schuylkill River, also cater to Penn students and staff.
Rush said Penn Police would not extend their Patrol Zone further east than 30th street to cover students who opt to live in the new private developments.
However, Penn Police will work closely with Philadelphia Police on any security issues that affect Penn students, Rush said.
