University Police beef up training, introduce new technology
Title
University Police beef up training, introduce new technology
Description
By: Ryan Norman
Posted: 8/23/07
With the looming arrival of the fall semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University Police are preparing for the increased number of on-campus students.
University Police are hoping to stay ahead of crime by supplementing training and implementing new technology, said Jim Davis, the education and personnel officer of the University Police.
"We have been preparing this summer by training for drug and alcohol-related situations," Davis said. "We have also taken time to study more on action and reaction to hostage situations, in reaction to Virginia Tech."
Davis said, along with increased training, the University Police have hired a new officer, Michael Eckel, to increase student safety.
The University Police are also planning on using two new online tools to help students.
By second semester, the University Police hope to have a system in place where students can register valuable items online in case of campus theft.
"We are trying to go out this year and entice everyone to register bicycles and electronics with us." Davis said. "Anything valuable students want to register, we want to be able to put in a system that we can pull up if that item disappears."
Capt. Carl Oestmann of University Police said the department implemented another online tool this summer called UNLAlert.
UNLAlert is a program which can be downloaded to any computer and will be used to alert university students, parents and staff members in case of a campus emergency. The program can be downloaded at http://emergency.unl.edu/unlalert.shtml.
"If you download the program, and have your computer on during a campus emergency, we can send out an emergency message that will automatically come up on your screen," Oestmann said. "It is another tool we can use to alert the campus community in case of an emergency."
Even with the new safety measures, the beginning of the fall semester inevitably causes an increase in several problems, including traffic and theft, Oestmann said.
Oestmann said drivers should "heed to the speed limits." University Police will be monitoring drivers' speeds, especially during the first few days of the school year.
"The beginning of the year always signals a high volume of traffic, and I don't like to pick on the freshman, but they need to be especially careful because it's new for them," Davis said. "We will be running the radar, especially on 16th and 17th street."
Oestmann also cautions students on leaving their car or dorm room unlocked while moving into University Housing.
"We get a few theft reports every year right when students move in because they leave their rooms or cars unlocked while they are moving in," Oestmann said. "Give up convenience and take the extra few minutes to lock your car and room."
Davis said he is looking forward to talking with students about any questions they may have for the University Police and any resident assistant who wants to invite him to speak is more than welcome to do so.
"Most of the time students see us in a negative light," Davis said. "We want students to be able to talk to us and know we are here to help them."
--
Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2007/08/23/News/University.Police.Beef.Up.Training.Introduce.New.Technology-2934639.shtml>Daily Nebraskan - August 23, 2007</a>
Posted: 8/23/07
With the looming arrival of the fall semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University Police are preparing for the increased number of on-campus students.
University Police are hoping to stay ahead of crime by supplementing training and implementing new technology, said Jim Davis, the education and personnel officer of the University Police.
"We have been preparing this summer by training for drug and alcohol-related situations," Davis said. "We have also taken time to study more on action and reaction to hostage situations, in reaction to Virginia Tech."
Davis said, along with increased training, the University Police have hired a new officer, Michael Eckel, to increase student safety.
The University Police are also planning on using two new online tools to help students.
By second semester, the University Police hope to have a system in place where students can register valuable items online in case of campus theft.
"We are trying to go out this year and entice everyone to register bicycles and electronics with us." Davis said. "Anything valuable students want to register, we want to be able to put in a system that we can pull up if that item disappears."
Capt. Carl Oestmann of University Police said the department implemented another online tool this summer called UNLAlert.
UNLAlert is a program which can be downloaded to any computer and will be used to alert university students, parents and staff members in case of a campus emergency. The program can be downloaded at http://emergency.unl.edu/unlalert.shtml.
"If you download the program, and have your computer on during a campus emergency, we can send out an emergency message that will automatically come up on your screen," Oestmann said. "It is another tool we can use to alert the campus community in case of an emergency."
Even with the new safety measures, the beginning of the fall semester inevitably causes an increase in several problems, including traffic and theft, Oestmann said.
Oestmann said drivers should "heed to the speed limits." University Police will be monitoring drivers' speeds, especially during the first few days of the school year.
"The beginning of the year always signals a high volume of traffic, and I don't like to pick on the freshman, but they need to be especially careful because it's new for them," Davis said. "We will be running the radar, especially on 16th and 17th street."
Oestmann also cautions students on leaving their car or dorm room unlocked while moving into University Housing.
"We get a few theft reports every year right when students move in because they leave their rooms or cars unlocked while they are moving in," Oestmann said. "Give up convenience and take the extra few minutes to lock your car and room."
Davis said he is looking forward to talking with students about any questions they may have for the University Police and any resident assistant who wants to invite him to speak is more than welcome to do so.
"Most of the time students see us in a negative light," Davis said. "We want students to be able to talk to us and know we are here to help them."
--
Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2007/08/23/News/University.Police.Beef.Up.Training.Introduce.New.Technology-2934639.shtml>Daily Nebraskan - August 23, 2007</a>
Creator
Ryan Norman
Publisher
Daily Nebraskan
Date
2007-09-03
Contributor
Sara AA Hood
Rights
Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
Language
eng
Citation
Ryan Norman, “University Police beef up training, introduce new technology,” The April 16 Archive, accessed April 25, 2024, https://www.april16archive.org/items/show/1266.