OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Public Safety Services

Goal

Protect & Serve

The University Police has as its primary goal to protect all persons within its jurisdiction to be as free from criminal attack, to be secure in their properties, and to live within a peaceful community, as humanly possible

Objective

Protect & Serve

Provide a safe and secure university environment

Indicator

Crime Statistics

Campus Security Act statistics

Criterion

Case Reports

Administrative and Offense Reports

Finding

Findings For Crime Statistics

In Fiscal reporting year 2008 � 2009, the following Campus Security Act:
4 Sexual Assaults in Residential Halls; 2 Sexual Assaults/Non-Forcible in Residential Halls; 4 Robberies on Campus; 2 Aggravated Assaults (1 on campus & 1 in Residence Hall); 17 Simple Assaults (11 on campus & 6 in Residence Halls); 81 Thefts on campus, 4 in Residence Halls, 1 in a non-campus building, and 49 Thefts on Public Property; 37 Vandalism reports on campus; 6 reports of Intimidation; and 1 Motor Vehicle Theft. Alcohol related arrests: 117 on campus and 57 off campus. Weapons Possession Arrests: 7 off campus property.

These required Campus Crime Statistics for the Clery Act do not reflect all criminal activity reported to the University Police Department. In all, a total of 802 Incident Reports were filed with this department.

Indicator

Service

Police related activities

Criterion

Police Activity

Police activities conducted daily, including calls for service.

Finding

Police Activity On Campus

Officers responded to a combined total of 16,993 Calls For Service during Fiscal year 2008 � 2009. Typically, the types of calls include traffic/pedestrian stops, administrative calls as it relates to University operations, calls related to criminal activity or other non-criminal related acts.

Action

Actions For Protect And Serve

During Fiscal Reporting Year 2008 � 2009, a number of increases were observed in Indicators used to evaluate and monitor the Protect and Serve objective. Noticeably, an increase was observed in reported sexual assaults on campus. This resulted in a need to identify common trends associated with the increase reports in reference to this type of incident.

Additionally, this was the first year that Thefts have been included in the crime statistics. During the reporting period, property crimes (as with previous academic years) remain a problem on the University. Once again, the department has had to objectively look at reported crimes, identify trends, and put together programs/information to better inform the University community in reference to this issue.

Finally, this year the department instituted a new records management system. This software allows police activities to be recorded once the initial call for service begins. In doing this, we have noted that our statistics will reflect much higher numbers than in the past which may skew data collected over pervious academic years since previous records did not always reflect all calls for service completed by officers.

Goal

Parking

Parking Management

Objective

Parking

To facilitate the safe and orderly conduct of university business and to provide parking facilities in support of this function within the limits of available space.

Indicator

Surface Facilities

Parking permits & citations.

Criterion

Parking Management Statistics

Parking permits sold and parking citations issued.

Finding

Parking Management Statistics

In Fiscal Year 2008 2009, the Parking Management Office sold 13,910 University Parking Permits. In addition, a total of 26,130 University (administrative) Parking Citations were issued.

Indicator

Parking Garage

Contracts and Hourly patrons

Criterion

Parking Garage Statistics

Parking garage contracts sold and hourly parking patrons.

Finding

Parking Garage Statistics

In Fiscal Year 2008 � 2009, the parking garage, operated by the Parking Management Office, exceeded the previous year�s revenue projected; however, it did not generate a positive revenue amount on its own to meet the annual bond payment. Although a market study has not been completed since its inception, the parking garage revenue stream continues to improve.

Fall Contracts � Full
Spring Contracts � 11 unfilled
Summer Contracts � 108 unfilled

Action

Action For Parking Objective

During Fiscal reporting year 2008 � 2009, it was projected that a combined total of 1.5 million in revenue would be made to meet the budge of the Department of Public Safety Services. At this time (08/11/2009) the department has exceeded its projected revenue by $115,736.31. This includes parking permit sales, collection of administrative parking fines, and parking garage sales.

The Parking Management Office has accepted new responsibilities for Fiscal Year 2010 which will include a Transportation function. In addition, the University is implementing new software to handle the day-to-day business operations. In planning for this, the Parking Management Office has been re-named to Parking & Transportation and will now have an assistant director to oversee the unit�s operations. Additionally, a full review of the parking management process will be evaluated during the next fiscal year.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement During fiscal year 2008 ??? 2009, the Parking Management Office continued with its commitment in providing parking permits and the enforcement of parking rules and regulations on campus. Although final statistics are not available for the fiscal year, current revenue projections were met in May 2009. Currently the department has exceeded projected income by nearly $100,000. However, with the construction of new buildings in existing parking lots (without new surface parking lots being built) the department faces a challenge in the upcoming years regarding available parking during peak hours.

Prior to fiscal year 2010, recommendations were made (and approved) to begin analyzing the current parking system to develop and recommend a new parking system that will help ease traffic congestion during peak time periods. Also, plans have been made to hire an assistant director for Parking & Transportation. This new position will be responsible for the oversight of the Parking & Transportation Office (this position will be responsible for the development of a new shuttle system on campus).

During fiscal year 2008 ??? 2009, the University Police Department continued with its mission to protect all persons within its jurisdiction and promote an environment that is conducive towards the academic process. Throughout this fiscal year, the department???s command staff noted several trends in indicators that required directional changes in policing services provided. In addition, the department???s command re-evaluated reporting systems and made improvements in technology to assist officers in their day-to-day related activities.

At this time final crime statistics for the reporting year are not available, but in reviewing campus reported criminal activity the department noted an increase in the number of reported sexual assaults and property crimes. To help deter these types of incidents, our department is participating with the Vice President for Student Services to help identify programs targeted to students in highlighting personal safety and sexual assaults. Furthermore, our department had two officers trained and certified in RAD Training (Rape Aggression Defense). These officers have offered multiple classes to students.

In addition, our department has noted the continual problem associated with property crimes on campus. During this fiscal year, early statistics indicate that reporting will be similar to previous years??? stats. With this in mind, the department???s command staff has initiated several programs in an attempt to help prevent these types of incidents. First, the department is working closely with the Department of Residence Life and the department is assigning officers to housing units. Officers will be asked to attend events at the housing units, respond to reported incidents at that housing unit, and provide community awareness programs at the assigned housing complex.

Also, the department has updated its website to include new features. These new features went into effect in July 2009. The features include a property registration form that allows students/faculty/staff to enter personal property data (product, model number, and serial number) with the department. If the item is reported missing or stolen and the item has been listed with our department, these records can be used to list the item in the stolen files database locally and nationally through the law enforcement network. A second item added to our webpage function allows anonymous reporting. Any community member may file an anonymous report in regards to criminal activity taking place on the campus. It is hoped that those who fear reporting incidents will take advantage of this tool and notify our department of criminal and/or suspicious activities occurring within our jurisdiction.

Finally, to better serve our community, the department upgraded two major computer systems. The first system replaced was the records management system (RMS). The RMS has provided our department with its first computer aided dispatch system (CAD). This will allow for better call tracking and statistical data collection. Also, the CAD system ties into the report writing module. Initial information provided to the officer will automatically transfer through functions within the software, into the report (removed redundant data entry). It also allows for in-car reporting. In addition, the RMS provides new features for command staff to identify officer work trends, crime statistics, crime mapping, and other utilities used to strategically plan. The second system to be replaced was the in-car video systems. The new system records digital video and audio and is transferred via a wireless access point. This has improved officer down times in regards to video retrieval and video transfer.