MU Police Force Always Available for Students
by Kendra Foster, posted Sept., 26, 2008
Whether by bicycle, on foot or in a car, the MU Police Department is here to help students have an enjoyable experience at MU. The influx of new students this year does not alarm these trained professionals; they are prepared.
The MUPD has 32 commissioned officers and over 13 other staff members. The police patrol the campus area and commuting sites such as Campus Lodge. MUPD does not stop there, however; they have jurisdiction on all of MU’s holdings throughout the state.
Students first met the MUPD during Summer Welcome. Capt. Brian Weimer of MUPD said that officers made an “aggressive effort during Summer Welcome” to let students know that the police are always available. Weimer also said that during Summer Welcome, officers encouraged students to practice a few safe habits meant to lower the chances of being the victim of a crime.
“Larceny theft [the stealing of belongings] is the most common crime we see here at MU, similar to most college campuses,” Weimer said.
Weimer said that there were many actions that students could take in order to avoid theft. He understands that many students in dorms abide by the “open door policy” in order to meet more people; this, however, can also lead to becoming a statistic. The police department strongly urges students to close and lock doors when not in their rooms. Theft can also occur when the front doors of the residence halls are not used properly. Front doors are to be latched at all times in order to prevent an intruder from gaining access.
The MUPD, along with the Department of Student Life and the Wellness Resource Center, handed out a publication during Summer Welcome titled, “It’s Your Move,” which included a catalog of various ways to aid in crime prevention. There were instructions such as, “Make a list of your valuables – DVD players, stereos, computers and jewelry. Take photos of the items; list the serial numbers and descriptions. Check with law enforcement about engraving your valuables through Operation Identification.”
Below are additional tips on, “How to Be Safe:”
• Lock doors and windows
• Before opening the door, find out who is on the other side
• Close blinds or curtains at night
• Keep cash or valuables out of sight
• Don’t walk alone after dark
• Always lock a car, and take all valuables out of it
• Never hide a spare key on the car’s body
• Roll up windows completely on a car
• Keep the glove box free of all important papers or credit cards
• Know your license plate number and VIN number, because if your car is stolen, you have to have these two numbers to report it
The MUPD offers more than 15 programs to help make the public more aware of crime prevention habits. Included in these tips are bicycle and laptop registration. During the first few weeks of school, the MUPD helped students register their equipment. This way, in case of a theft, the equipment would be easily identifiable.
Visit the department’s Web site for more information on these programs, www.mupolice.com. To contact the MUPD in an emergency, dial “911.” If it is not an emergency, students should feel free to contact MUPD by e-mail or by calling 572-882-7201.
