Nearly 100 University of 91吃瓜 students attended a Student Safety Summit at 91吃瓜鈥檚 LaFortune Student Center on Tuesday (Oct. 9).
The event took the form of a Q&A with local law enforcement, including 91吃瓜 Security Police Chief Keri Kei Shibata, St. Joseph County Assistant Police Chief Bill Thompson, South Bend Division Chief Eric Crittendon and state excise officer Nicholas Canal.
NDSP, in partnership with 91吃瓜 Student Government, the Office of Community Relations, the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department and Indiana State Excise Police, hosted the summit.
Students were able to submit questions ahead of time, ask them in-person or submit them anonymously via Poll Everywhere, an online application. Topics ranged from crime prevention and reporting, underage drinking and campus access to the use of metal detectors on campus, police-community relations and police accountability.
The hour-long event included food and giveaways.
Responding to a question about the University鈥檚 approach to safety on an open campus, Shibata noted that NDSP officers constantly patrol campus for suspicious activity, and encouraged students and other members of the campus community to 鈥渓et us know when you see something鈥� suspicious as well.
鈥淭he University of 91吃瓜 wants to be a very welcoming place,鈥� Shibata said. 鈥淭hat comes with some risk in that we don鈥檛 always know everyone who is on campus.鈥�
As far as metal detectors, Shibata noted that the University already rents metal detectors for special events like the recent Chainsmokers concert and the upcoming Garth Brooks concert, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e looking at expanding that to other major athletic events or events where there will be a large number of people on campus.鈥�
That鈥檚 in addition to the University鈥檚 clear bag policy for all reserve-ticketed events at 91吃瓜 Stadium, Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center and Compton Family Ice Arena, Shibata said, which went into effect in August as a way to enhance security and expedite entry for those venues.
Asked about bias in policing, an issue of increasing significance nationwide, Shibata noted that NDSP officers train to recognize bias and ensure fair and impartial policing, and also work to build relationships across campus 鈥渟o you get to know us and we get to know you.鈥�
South Bend, Mishawaka and county police undergo the same training, Thompson, the assistant county police chief, said.
鈥淏asically, everyone has a bias,鈥� Crittendon, the South Bend division chief, said. 鈥淲e want to make sure those biases don鈥檛 get in the way of the way we police鈥� and erode confidence in law enforcement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about making sure people believe in us and believe in the work that we do,鈥� Crittendon said.
Another question centered on the relatively small number of blue-light phones 鈥� strategically placed emergency phones that connect directly to law enforcement 鈥� on campus.
Essentially, cell phones have eliminated the need for such phones, Shibata said, so while the University continues to maintain its existing blue light phones, 鈥渨e鈥檝e been selective in where we put鈥� new ones.
Generally, the phones can be found in parking lots, along the perimeter of campus and in remote areas where cell service is unreliable, Shibata said. Each residence hall also has a phone in the entryway.
As far as who to call in an emergency, Shibata recommended students dial NDSP directly when on campus, since 911 routes through the county dispatch center. She suggested students program the number (574-631-5555) into their phones for convenience.
鈥淚f you call 911 from your cell phone, it goes to the county consolidated dispatch center, which dispatches the county and city police,鈥� Shibata said. 鈥淪o they get that call and then transfer it to us.鈥�
Capt. Robert Martinez, head of crime prevention, outreach and safety for NDSP, said the department is considering a second safety summit in the spring.
鈥淚t was evident that students are mindful of safety and security issues on campus,鈥� Martinez said, adding, 鈥淓ngaging with students in an event like this goes a long way towards them maintaining positive relationships with campus officials, local law enforcement and their neighbors.鈥�
NDSP is a fully authorized police agency in Indiana that employs both sworn police officers and non-sworn campus safety officers. NDSP officers complete state mandated training and have the same legal authority as other police officers in the state.