[Vision2020] UI Safer With Moscow Police

[Glenn Schwaller]

Perhaps it may be of value to peruse the last several years of campus
police calls and determine how many were of "police" necessity
(holdups at the SUB for example).  I suspect a vast majority (suspect
- I have not gone into the police logs yet) are of the nature of
gun-checks, alarm bell ringing in the elevators, traffic control,
parking problems, noise complaints, all "minor" issues that could be
handled at less expense by a competent security contractor.  Those
issues requiring police presence could be contracted on an 'as needed'
basis.  I suspect given the low frequency of violent crime on campus
(drunken students firing at passing cars) risk would be minimal
(here's a can of worms opening up...) and for those at-risk situations
MDP response would be (could be?  should be?) quick.

GS

On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 7:41 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> Courtesy of today's (April 16, 2010) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks
> to Chuck Bond of Moscow.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> UI safer with Moscow police
>
> In regard to the University of Idaho's upcoming decision to use either a
> security contractor or the Moscow Police Department for law enforcement at
> the university, may I make a point?
>
> Security contractors are to observe and report, which the public can and
> does do at no charge to the university or the public. They do not have the
> authority to arrest or even to intervene, as was so well demonstrated by
> the lack of effectiveness in the Seattle incident where a young lady was
> beaten to the point of hospitalization in full view of numerous security
> personnel and cameras.
>
> If things go wrong, be it a noise disturbance or the unthinkable shooting
> by a gunman, who would you want to be the first on the scene? If money is
> the primary determining factor, there are plenty of places to start
> cutting money other than the security of the UI. I would start at the top.
>
> Chuck Bond, Moscow
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Thanks, Chuck.
>
> Privatized rent-a-cops may save the university a couple bucks, but look
> across the state line at WSU and the costs related to such an
> ill-conceived venture.
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>               http://www.fsr.net
>          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================
>