UD Police
Crime reduction reflects dedicated personnel, policing initiatives
2:28 p.m., Feb. 16, 2016--Crime at the University of Delaware has been greatly reduced over the last six years, UD Police Chief Patrick Ogden announced Feb. 10 at the department's Winter Recognition Ceremony.
Ogden said serious crimes, such as robbery, burglary, theft and assault are down by 45 percent, and crimes such as trespassing, disorderly conduct, drug and alcohol violations have been reduced by 27 percent.
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"These reductions are a direct reflection of not only the University’s commitment to safety but more importantly, to our dedicated personnel, who have tirelessly deployed innovative crime reduction strategies and community policing initiatives that are focused on the safety and welfare of the public we serve," he said.
Ogden noted that changes have included building strong partnerships with other agencies, building on community outreach initiatives, creating a robust video surveillance system, the implementation of UD Alert and the LiveSafe App, the addition of a K9 unit and crime mapping software.
"These investments have improved our operational and investigative capabilities, which ultimately resulted in a noteworthy reduction in crime," he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Acting President Nancy Targett said, "The UD Police Department is comprised of top-tier professionals – all of them well trained, well equipped and well prepared to keep our community safe.
She praised the police for being visible and present in the community and noted, "We have always been focused on public safety through the prevention of crime…. It's evident in the training you do all over campus and in the alerts you send by text and social media."
New officers
The ceremony also include the official swearing in of three new officers:
• Alex Skinner joined the department as a 911 dispatcher in June 2015 and was hired as a police officer in September 2015. He graduated from the Delaware State Police Training Academy on Feb. 12.
• Hunter Bordley joined the department as a cadet in April 2015 and was hired as a police officer in September 2015. He has attended classes in Delaware Technical Community College's Law Enforcement Option program, which is offered in collaboration with the Delaware State Police Training Academy.
• William Matthews, a sergeant in the Delaware National Guard, was hired as a police officer in September 2015. On Feb. 12, he graduated from the Delaware State Police Training Academy, and at the ceremony he was class speaker and received the Delaware Police Chiefs' Council Outstanding Recruit Award.
About UD Police
The University of Delaware Department of Public Safety changed its name to University of Delaware Police in fall 2015 to more accurately reflect the scope and impact of the unit's work. The department's mission remains the same: to create an environment where all members of the campus community and all visitors can feel safe to learn, work, live and visit.
UD Police includes 50 sworn officers, 1 sworn constable, 13 security officers and eight 911 dispatchers, as well as administrative personnel, part-time cadets and volunteer emergency medical technicians. Police officers are sworn law enforcement officers of the state of Delaware and are certified by the Delaware Council on Police Training. They have full investigative and arrest authority on campus, as well as some of the surrounding area, as provided by law.
The Patrol Division provides police services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. Officers perform patrols in vehicles, on foot and on bicycles and provide rapid response to any incidents, investigate reports of criminal activity and interact with members of the campus community.
In addition, the department supports more than 450 events each year, including home football games, basketball games, concerts, DUI checkpoints and Commencement, as well as providing security for VIP visitors and distinguished campus guests.
The department's Community Resource Unit (CRU) reaches out to the campus with officers on patrol on bikes, on foot and in vehicles. CRU presents programs on campus and in the surrounding area and assists other law enforcement agencies within the state with special initiatives. CRU also administers the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) program, which offers self-defense for all female students, faculty and staff, and the Community Police Academy, which provides citizens with the opportunity to learn about the department and to receive instruction on defensive tactics, crime scene management, evidence processing and target practice, among other topics.
The UD Police Department is accredited by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.