Guest opinion: Initiatives will curb crime

Today, we are announcing a bold new initiative to enhance the safety of our campus and surrounding community. The University is committing $5 million to immediately implement additional measures to strengthen safety and security.

This is in addition to the $2 million supplemental resources previously authorized this fiscal year. The safety of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our number-one priority.

With the additional funds, Penn's Division of Public Safety will immediately add both uniformed and plainclothes police officers and security guards to street patrol during the evening and early-morning hours, both on campus and in the surrounding community, and will expand lighting and other security-related technology.

Specifically, Penn will aim to saturate the area by:

- Increasing the number of Penn police officers by 20 percent;

- Increasing the presence of campus security guards by 50 percent;

- Investing $2 to 3 million in lighting, security cameras and emergency phones.

The presence of more police officers, security guards and improved lighting has been effective in reducing crime.

In December, overall crime on and near campus decreased by 26 percent compared to 2004 due to the additional police and security patrols in our area. Based on these results, we are expanding these initiatives.

Since November 2005, Penn Police have been working with the Philadelphia Police Department, and together they have formed a tactical joint Philadelphia-Penn police force comprised of uniformed and undercover police officers.

The task force has resulted in more than 90 arrests of perpetrators of crime in our community.

Penn's campus is one of the most vibrant urban campuses in America. Working with our partners in the city and in our neighborhood, we will do everything we can to enhance the safety and security of our community.

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