8/23/01

Janet L. McCoy

AU TO BEEF UP CAMPUS POLICE WITH HIRING OF ADDITIONAL OFFICERS

AUBURN -- Additional police officers will be hired by Auburn University's Department of Public Safety to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff on campus, Jim Ferguson, vice president for administrative services, announced Thursday.

The decision to hire eight additional offices was made in response to several issues, including recent incidents on campus where security and safety have been an issue, said Ferguson

AU Interim President William F. Walker approved the decision to hire additional officers.

"We are going to do all that is necessary to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff while they are on campus," Walker said. "We consider this a high priority issue and are acting accordingly."

Ferguson said several factors were involved in the decision to hire more officers the possible menacing of two students and three sexual assaults that occurred on campus earlier this year and a proposal by AUDPS Director Bill Nevin to hired additional officers.

The issue was discussed during a Board of Trustee budget committee meeting on Tuesday.

Ferguson added that additional financial resources will not be required because he will redirect existing funds within his administrative unit.

Nevin said once the officers are hired, they will make an immediate impact with their coverage and appearance on campus.

"Auburn University is as large in population as most cities in Alabama because they have a population of 10,000 or less," he said. "AU faculty, staff and students comprise approximately 30,000."

AUDPS currently has 26 sworn officers, but that includes Nevin, one major, two captains and three investigators.

"We have 19 police officers who work the road in four 12-hour shifts," Nevin added.

The latest incident on campus an apparent menacing case was reported to AUDPS on Tuesday. A similar incident was reported June 21. In those cases, police artists have developed two computer-generated composite sketches. In addition, the suspects were described as 6-feet-tall with brown hair. AUDPS has distributed the composite campus-wide.

Nevin urged anyone with information about the cases to call AUDPS at 334/844-4158. Those who wish to remain anonymous may provide information to the AUDPS by going to the department's web site.

University officials remind students, faculty and staff to immediately report any suspicious people or activity to the AUDPS. On campus phones and emergency phones connect to AUDPS when 911 is dialed.

aug01:AU-officers

CONTACT: Capt. Tom Stofer, 334/844-4143.