You probably wouldn’t put them in risky situations.
Shelow: You’re right. It certainly wouldn’t be my position to put them in risky situations. We have one of the best relationships between campus and local police. The chief down there approached me four years ago and asked if he could use our student auxiliary program, which is widely respected within the law enforcement community. We could deploy them in the downtown business area, where we have a lot of bars, on the weekends. We’ll put them in an auxiliary uniform, equip them and have them report conduct. Some look at that as a bit risky.
These young men and women are being asked to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears. We focus on putting them in environments that are not risky, but from time to time they will come across risky behavior or incidents. Then, and only then, are they expected to call it in, report, follow at a safe distance, get descriptions, and be good, solid witnesses. Sometimes, they’ll find themselves in a precarious position; it can’t always be avoided. That’s the nature of our work.
Why do you think the auxiliary program works so well?
Shelow: In terms of the university police culture, they’re seen as a resource that’s critically important to our success. I think we have widespread support and buy in on campus. Our program, coupled with everything they’ve learned in the classroom and what we’ve offered our students, prepares them for the real world. I believe, fundamentally, that we have a role in that regard, and so far in that role, we’ve been successful.
How is your auxiliary program different from the other student jobs on your campus?
Shelow: At other campus jobs, they won’t get the opportunity to have the chief of police get to know them and serve as a reference. As I grew up through the organization, some of my early promotions were linked directly with managing programs. I got to know the students, and I would write hundreds of reference letters for them as they went off to the working world. Our program has something to offer. For those campuses that are interested in implementing a program like this, identifying the need is a must.
If that need is there, take the opportunity to get the employees to buy into it, and then work towards connecting it to the students’ academic pursuits. It benefits the work force, the organization, the institution and the student. You’
ve got a pretty good recipe there.
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Ashley Willis is assistant editor of Campus Safety. She can be reached at [email protected].
