Impact of Kuprevich's tenure at U. not yet clear

When University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich came to the University, he was given a daunting task: To make the University community secure. Kuprevich knew when he came to University City -- located in one of the higher-crime sections of the fifth-largest American city -- he would have to be innovative. Friday, after four years at the University, Kuprevich announced that he had completed all he wanted to accomplish and that he would be stepping down as police commissioner at the end of July. As to whether he was successful in creating a secure community, the jury is still out. Although Kuprevich has repeatedly said that campus crime is down, his statistics have remained controversial. On October 31, 1994, The Daily Pennsylvanian reported that from September 15, 1992 to September 15, 1993, robberies and attempted robberies increased 32 percent, robberies with firearms increased 52 percent, aggravated assaults increased 16 percent and simple assaults 15 percent. In addition, increases were reported in rapes, aggravated assaults with firearms, weapons offenses, kidnappings, aggravated indecent assaults, arson, auto thefts and purse snatches . Meanwhile, homicides, burglaries and thefts decreased. At the time, Kuprevich said, "all I can really tell you is that looking from one year to the next there are a tremendous amount of variables that can account for increases and decreases." To his credit, Kuprevich oversaw the doubling of the police force, the institution of bike patrols, the creation of two police mini-stations and the drafting of a master plan for campus security. But University Police officers often complained that the department was ineffectively managed. On October 26, 1993, the DP reported that only two of the department's fleet of vehicles were operational due to lack of maintenance. Two days later, University Police responded to the situation by purchasing three new patrol cars. On October 6, 1994, University Fraternal Order of Police President Dave Ball complained of poor radio equipment that he believed placed the officers at risk. Ball also complained that unlike most police agencies operating in Philadelphia, University Police did not carry semi-automatic pistols. Ball said that he hoped that progress would be made with equipment issues. However, the officers did gain some concessions. University Police bought a paddy wagon last year, despite complaints from Kuprevich that it would do nothing to improve safety in the area. In addition, all officers now have state-of-the-art radios that scan Philadelphia Police frequencies to aid the officers in their police work. But semi-automatic guns have yet to be purchased, and do not appear to be in any future plans. Officers also decried Kuprevich's actions against Officer John Washington for striking a student in the upper thigh with a mini-baton during the confiscation of 14,000 copies of the DP in April 1993. Washington was suspended, and his record marked. Last January, however, arbiter Thomas DiLauro of the American Arbitration Association found Washington "acted in an extremely professional manner." Several times, Kuprevich was accused by officers of having a poor rapport with the rank and file and lowering morale. Many officers have said this was due to broken promises. When Kuprevich became commissioner, he told the officers that he wanted to construct a new police station at 40th and Walnut and that the department would be an elite force. Four years later, the officers are still working out of a former parish house at 3914 Locust Walk, although the station has been renovated recently. However, Kuprevich is not to blame for many of these unfulfilled commitments. Rather, the almost constant turnover in the Executive Vice President's Office -- which oversees the Department of Public Safety -- during the past four years and a lack of commitment on the part of previous administrations, often meant Kuprevich's projects were ignored or under funded. Under the new administration of Judith Rodin, the past trend of University inaction has been reversed. Last week, the University announced that it would construct five security kiosks around campus. The architectural drawings -- released by Kuprevich -- dated from 1992. In addition, the dispatch area was only recently expanded from its former cramped room about the size of a Quadrangle double.

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