Recently, the PUC Police Department announced a new method of reporting crimes on campus. Any individual, whether a student, staff member or guest can report crimes by taking a photograph with a camera or cell phone and sending it to the Police Department via e-mail or text message.
According to PUC Chief of Police Anthony Martin, this new project has encouraged students to report unsafe issues while on campus. So far, this method is new so it is still being evaluated based on its effectiveness. According to Martin, the Police Department is pushing this new method until people get used to it.
PUC Police encourage the campus community to report incidents or encounters they have observed. This may include the witnessing of a crime, something that may need fixing, people smoking in non-smoking areas and even people who wrongfully use a handicap placard.
The department encourages students to report crimes by taking a photograph only if it is safe to do so. At times, there may be a danger to the individual that has witnessed the crime if caught by the perpetrator. The department advises that every individual should exercise caution and make their use judgment in order to safely report a crime. If there is a crime that needs to be reported, an individual may call the anonymous police hotline at 219-989-2912 or send the photograph by email to unpol@purduecal.edu.
Meanwhile, the Police Department has enacted a program called "Silent Witness." According to PUC Police Chief Anthony Martin, many students do not want to get involved or be known as witnesses to events that happen on campus. The "Silent Witness" program offers an alternative to report unsafe issues on campus by submitting the report anonymously.
"We urge the campus community to contact the University Police if they witness a crime or have been a victim of a crime," said Anthony Martin. "However, we realize and recognize an individual's need to remain anonymous."
As a result, an individual can report criminal incidents and/or suspicious activity anonymously by completing an online form. This form can be reached by going to www.purduecal.edu, clicking on the "Faculty and Staff" tab, and following the police link. Otherwise, individuals may call the anonymous hotline at 219-989-2912 or the PUC police department at 219-989-2221.
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