(Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)In the wake of a highly publicized physical assault on a student in the Adelphi Commons II dorms, ASU police vowed to increase their visibility on campus, hoping to increase coverage without actually increasing the number of patrol officers, officials said.
The incident, an assault and sexual abuse, occurred Sept. 9, and authorities still do not have any leads in the case, ASU Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Daniel Macias.
After the attack, the department decided to make an effort to increase its presence on campus in areas that were more visible to students, Macias said.
“We want to draw attention so first of all students know that it happened,” Macias said. “We also are hoping that people will see the officers and might approach an officer with information.”
Macias said department leaders are briefing officers regularly on areas of concern on campus, and ways to eliminate potential unsafe situations.
Officers and police aides are being asked to remain more visible in areas that the department defines as areas of concern, Macias said. The difference can be as simple as an officer doing paperwork in the public eye rather than in a secluded area.
The heightened coverage comes at a time when officers are already spread thin on campus.
“We’re definitely doing the best we can with what we have,” Macias said. “But we could always use more people. I think if you were to ask any police department, they would all say they could use more people.”
ASU spokeswoman Julie Newberg said the University is in the process of adding officers and police aides to the department to alleviate some of the staffing issues.
“ASU Police have actively worked for months to add new officers and police aides to their force with 10 new officers in training, five at the police academy and more in the process of being hired,” Newberg said in an email. “Improvements include a retention program for officers and increased wages. The department is in the process of adding 15 new officers and hiring 20 additional police aides who also patrol campus.”
Macias said most crimes that occur on campus are crimes of opportunity, such as stealing bikes or other possessions that a person may leave unlocked.
“We try to eliminate those opportunities,” Macias said. “We teach students to lock their rooms, use U-locks on their bikes, use the buddy system on campus, use the safety escort service and our LiveSafe app. It is a big campus, and we can’t be everywhere.”
Newberg added that the rate of violent crime on campus is very low, with ASU ranking below other large colleges in rates of sexually-related offenses.
Tempe police department spokesperson Michael Pooley said Tempe police also work closely with ASU officers to augment the policing ability.
“We assist ASU when they request assistance and do all we can to make sure students and anybody living or visiting Tempe is safe,” Pooley said.
Macias said reporting any suspicious activity to the police is the best way to keep the campus safe.
“If you ever see anything suspicious, you absolutely should call police,” Macias said. “It allows us to respond more effectively and keep you safe.”
Reach the reporter at cvanek@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @CorinaVanek
