Posted September 3, 2014

Temple University announces extension of police patrol borders

Temple University is extending and squaring off its patrol borders for policing to further improve responsiveness to Temple’s off-campus residential student population and community members who live near Main Campus in North Philadelphia.

The western boundary of Temple’s patrol area is extending from 16th Street to 18th Street. The eastern boundary will be 9th Street, the northern boundary Susquehanna Avenue and the southern boundary will be Jefferson Street. This extended boundary, which is a square around Main Campus, was piloted in August and is fully taking effect to coincide with the start of the fall semester.

“Having more clearly defined and extended borders responds to the growth in Temple’s residential student population, especially west of Broad Street,” said Charles J. Leone, executive director of Campus Safety Services, of the estimated 13,000 students who live on or near Main Campus. “This decision also follows productive discussions in the spring among students, parents, faculty, staff and local residents about ways in which security initiatives could be further improved.”

Temple’s public-safety team includes 215 full-time employees, both sworn police officers and staff, as well as 250 full-time-equivalent security personnel through AlliedBarton Security Services. Leone said that Temple Police and AlliedBarton bicycle patrols will be deployed to cover the larger area. Resources that have funded supplemental patrols by the Philadelphia Police Department will be used to help offset the additional time and patrol costs.

“Temple will continue our close and collaborative relationship with Philadelphia Police in crime prevention, emergency response and investigation,” Leone said. “Our levels of coordination, especially with the leadership and officers of the 22nd District, will remain strong for the students and community residents we serve.”

Temple will continue to be proactive, through the daily crime log on the Campus Safety Services website, TU Alerts, and other communications outlets and outreach efforts, to notify the university community about public-safety matters in its patrol zone.

The patrol extension also complements Temple’s ongoing Good Neighbor Initiative, which encourages students to build connections and relationships with their residential community. The policy establishes guidelines for Temple students to be responsible members of the community, with special attention to issues of noise, alcohol consumption, trash and conduct. Students are held accountable for their conduct by police and by Temple’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

“With Temple Police providing the same level of protection and responsiveness to students and residents alike, we are confident that the extended patrol zone will create a safe environment and strengthen the quality of life for everyone who lives around Main Campus,” Leone said.