In response to a recent flurry of criminal activity on and around campus, the University, in conjunction with the Providence Police Department, increased its security twice within the past several weeks - and officers say the campus is safer as a result.
PPD patrolman Ken Simoneau said the department has assigned eight additional officers to patrol the campus between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Four officers patrol the campus on foot, while an additional four provide support in cars. Simoneau, a 14-year veteran of the force, said he is a part of a rotation of about 400 officers who take turns providing the extra security, which will be an ongoing presence.
"They've told us that we'd be here for at least a year," he said.
"I've really noticed that they've increased security," said Emma Laz-Hirsch '08. "There are police everywhere now."
Simoneau, who was patrolling the Thayer Street area Monday night, said security has improved since the additional patrols were added. He also said removing the motorcycle groups from Thayer Street has improved student safety.
"Getting rid of the motorcycles was helpful," he said. "That initiated the cleansing of Thayer to help the students."
But not all students are sure if removing the motorcyclists from Thayer Street has actually helped security.
"I don't know what the problem was," Laz-Hirsch said. "The motorcyclists never seemed threatening."
Although he is working an additional five-hour detail in addition to his regular day job, Simoneau said he thinks the additional security is important.
"I think it's needed up here," he said, adding that he doesn't mind working overtime "as long as you get enough sleep."
The increased security is a direct response to recent crimes on and near campus. President Ruth Simmons first announced a security upgrade at a Nov. 2 faculty meeting, but a Nov. 9 community e-mail from Walter Hunter, vice president for administration, and David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services, said security had been increased again in light of continued criminal activity.
Hunter told The Herald earlier this month that the University is paying for the added PPD officers, although he declined to say how much the patrols are costing. Simoneau said he is being paid $36 an hour for the additional patrols, which is 50 percent more than his regular PPD salary.
Hunter said he's unclear if the $1 million that Simmons spoke of at the Nov. 2 faculty meeting was for the recent security upgrades, and University officials are not disclosing the source of money for the additional security.
Mark Nickel, director of the Brown News Service, declined to comment on behalf of the University about the cost of the security upgrades or the source of the money paying for them.
