Spring Break
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: News
Perspective | Police depts join forces to better fight crime
At schools across the city, Philadelphia Police are teaming up with campus forces
Emily Schultheis
Last Friday, Philadelphia Police captains, community members and proud parents alike gathered in Temple University's McGonigle Hall to recognize the Police Academy's newest graduates.
The 91 officers, after spending this week on traffic control during the World Series, will then be deployed to districts across the city - including several that will require them to work closely with Philadelphia universities.
In the Penn Patrol Zone, the coordination between all police and security organizations is extensive. But on other campuses, differences in university forces cause alternate approaches to their relationships with the Philadelphia Police.
"Policing's really not a one-size-fits-all process," said Lt. Frank Vanore, a Philadelphia Police spokesman. "What works well in the Penn area may not work as well in the LaSalle area or the Temple area."
'All in this together'
Penn and Temple may be at opposite ends of Philadelphia, but the two schools have a lot in common. Both are large universities in urban areas of the city, and both have large police forces.
And while each has its own separate crime issues, they are both characterized by their high levels of collaboration with city police.
On Penn's campus, Penn Police and the Philadelphia Police officers in the University City District work closely to keep the area safe.
"It's so interchangeable with the Philadelphia Police that it's almost like the same organization," said Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush, who used to be a Philadelphia Police officer. "We're all in this together."
Some of this teamwork is more casual - weekly meetings to discuss trends and problems or plans to increase security for events like Family Weekend - but the two forces also join up to tackle more serious incidents.
After the recent shooting on 40th and Ludlow streets, in which one man was killed and another was seriously injured, both Penn and Philadelphia developed a new deployment plan to prevent future occurrences in the area, Rush said.
The 91 officers, after spending this week on traffic control during the World Series, will then be deployed to districts across the city - including several that will require them to work closely with Philadelphia universities.
In the Penn Patrol Zone, the coordination between all police and security organizations is extensive. But on other campuses, differences in university forces cause alternate approaches to their relationships with the Philadelphia Police.
"Policing's really not a one-size-fits-all process," said Lt. Frank Vanore, a Philadelphia Police spokesman. "What works well in the Penn area may not work as well in the LaSalle area or the Temple area."
'All in this together'
Penn and Temple may be at opposite ends of Philadelphia, but the two schools have a lot in common. Both are large universities in urban areas of the city, and both have large police forces.
And while each has its own separate crime issues, they are both characterized by their high levels of collaboration with city police.
On Penn's campus, Penn Police and the Philadelphia Police officers in the University City District work closely to keep the area safe.
"It's so interchangeable with the Philadelphia Police that it's almost like the same organization," said Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush, who used to be a Philadelphia Police officer. "We're all in this together."
Some of this teamwork is more casual - weekly meetings to discuss trends and problems or plans to increase security for events like Family Weekend - but the two forces also join up to tackle more serious incidents.
After the recent shooting on 40th and Ludlow streets, in which one man was killed and another was seriously injured, both Penn and Philadelphia developed a new deployment plan to prevent future occurrences in the area, Rush said.
Be the first to comment on this story