OPS does more than arrest
Issue date: 8/17/07 Section: News
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Editor's note: The following is a letter written by the Director of the Office of Public Safety to both students and staff to explain OPS's role in the community.
Dear Campus Community:
As a new academic year begins, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome new and returning students, faculty and staff to Western Illinois University and to inform the campus community of the services and assistance available through Western's Office of Public Safety.
While our police officers wear many hats and juggle a multitude of responsibilities, their job first and foremost is to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty and staff and campus visitors. The department employs 25 full-time officers and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Mowbray Hall, located across from the University Union on the Western campus.
In addition to routine patrol, OPS dispatches officers to the street on foot and bicycles, as well as to the residence halls nightly. The officers also provide security and traffic control at university events; provide transportation to the hospital; conduct building safety checks; host education-and safety-related programming; and supervise student patrol and emergency medical services on campus.
Western's Student Patrol is available to provide escorts on campus during the evening to early morning hours. Student Patrol can be reached by calling OPS at 309/298-1949. If a Student Patrol member is not available, OPS officers will also provide escorts on campus.
There are 51 emergency call boxes located at strategic locations throughout campus. Without dialing, the caller is immediately in contact with OPS, the location of the call is automatically recorded and response is almost immediate. Public Safety may also be reached in an emergency by dialing 9-1-1 from any campus phone.
If you have any concerns or questions or need to report a crime or suspicious behavior, please call OPS immediately or visit Mowbray Hall at any time. Individuals who have a comment or an issue can also file a report at www.wiu.edu/ops.
Providing community service is our foundation. We investigate public safety problems and seek solutions that result in a safe and secure campus. We look forward to working with each of you to make 2007-2008 a successful and safe school year.
Robert Fitzgerald
Director, Office of Public Safety
Dear Campus Community:
As a new academic year begins, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome new and returning students, faculty and staff to Western Illinois University and to inform the campus community of the services and assistance available through Western's Office of Public Safety.
While our police officers wear many hats and juggle a multitude of responsibilities, their job first and foremost is to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty and staff and campus visitors. The department employs 25 full-time officers and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Mowbray Hall, located across from the University Union on the Western campus.
In addition to routine patrol, OPS dispatches officers to the street on foot and bicycles, as well as to the residence halls nightly. The officers also provide security and traffic control at university events; provide transportation to the hospital; conduct building safety checks; host education-and safety-related programming; and supervise student patrol and emergency medical services on campus.
Western's Student Patrol is available to provide escorts on campus during the evening to early morning hours. Student Patrol can be reached by calling OPS at 309/298-1949. If a Student Patrol member is not available, OPS officers will also provide escorts on campus.
There are 51 emergency call boxes located at strategic locations throughout campus. Without dialing, the caller is immediately in contact with OPS, the location of the call is automatically recorded and response is almost immediate. Public Safety may also be reached in an emergency by dialing 9-1-1 from any campus phone.
If you have any concerns or questions or need to report a crime or suspicious behavior, please call OPS immediately or visit Mowbray Hall at any time. Individuals who have a comment or an issue can also file a report at www.wiu.edu/ops.
Providing community service is our foundation. We investigate public safety problems and seek solutions that result in a safe and secure campus. We look forward to working with each of you to make 2007-2008 a successful and safe school year.
Robert Fitzgerald
Director, Office of Public Safety
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