University Police now armed with semi-automatic weapons

Public Safety Division also to begin seeking location for new, centralized headquarters University Police officials decided this summer to arm officers with semi-automatic weapons -- a proposal long disputed within the department and across campus. Despite the negative reaction from some University Police officers and other community members, the force will join almost every police department in the country -- including most college police departments -- whose officers carry semi-automatic weapons. Managing Director of Public Safety Thomas Seamon also announced that plans to acquire space to expand current safety facilities. Seamon said that the division is "close to acquiring an existing building in the area" which, according to a May 30 Weekly Press article, is located at the west end of campus on the 4100 block of either Chestnut or Walnut streets. University Police officials would not comment on the location of the new facility. Seamon said the move will consolidate all parts of Public Safety into one primary location. "Public Safety is currently housed in three separate buildings, none of which were designed for law enforcement and security functions," he added. The University Police and Public Safety administration offices are now housed in buildings on Locust Walk. The Victim Support/Special Services units, however, is located on the 3900 block of Walnut Street. Seamon also said that a facility is needed "to support the new security technology being introduced on campus." He added the UPPD is now striving to meet National Police Accreditation standards. Sgt. Michael Fink will serve as the department's accreditation manager. Fink will supervise the effort to come up to national police standards. Seamon said the department will most likely hire several new officers in the future to "maintain staffing levels." He also dispelled a rumor that the department is building a homeless shelter near campus in an effort to reduce the number of panhandlers on the campus. But he said panhandlers are always a concern for University police "because of their impact on quality of life issues." Public Safety is currently working on a joint program with the Office of Community Affairs to educate students about how to deal with panhandlers. The program, called "Don't Give Change, Help Penn Make a Change," began this summer to discourage students, faculty and staff from giving money to the rising number of panhandlers. The campaign is expanding this month and will become a part of student orientation. Campaign posters and pamphlets placed in strategic locations around campus suggest alternatives to giving money to panhandlers, such as buying food for them or directing them to the nearest facility equipped to deal with the homeless.

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