Technological advances such as high tech cell phones and global positioning systems have inspired Campus Police to consider updating their software systems with new state-of-the-art technology.
Tom Younce, chief of Campus Police, said although land lines such as blue lights and facility phones can be tracked directly, the current software can only provide a rough estimate of the location of the crime.
According to Younce, he wants Campus Police to eventually have technology capable of locating a distress call from within a few feet.
Younce and his team has also taken measures to investigate geographic information software that can even tell the severity of the emergency.
According to Sgt. Edward Farmer of Campus Police, patrol units are positioned based on information collected through geographic information system software and police reports.
He said the cost of this new technology will probably amount to an addition of ten cents in tuition per student per semester if Student Government and the state consents to the plan.
“From a student standpoint and a parent standpoint, every student essentially has his or her own blue light [with this new software],” he said.
Jessica Shamshoum, a senior in economics, said the new software system is a good idea.
“I’ve seen a couple of the blue lights out of order [around campus],” she said. “If someone approaches a student and the student doesn’t have a blue light then they’re pretty much screwed.”
Younce said a cell phone with GPS increases the likelihood of police being able to catch a criminal faster.
“If someone is injured, we can get a general location of where they’re at [through the GPS],” Younce said.
Yee Lee, a sophomore in engineering, said he hopes with the new geographic information software system, Campus Police can decrease the time it takes to respond to a distress call.
“With this new technology maybe they can actually get there to catch the person who committed the crime,” Lee said.
Faye Moussa, a freshman in First Year College, said she likes the fact Campus Police can pinpoint the location of a distress call instantaneously.
“If you’re being attacked or something is happening, you need to just have some response immediately and you should not have to wait,” she said.
Eric Barber, a sophomore in accounting, said he will feel more secure if Campus Police are able to locate him faster if a crime occurs.
“It’d make me feel more comfortable knowing that they could locate me even when I can’t tell them where I am,” Barber said.
Farmer said most crime seems to occur in D.H. Hill library, Talley Student Center and residence halls. He said the most common crimes are larceny, robbery, trespassing and assault.
