The OSUPD has expanded its joint patrol program with the CPD. Photo credit: Bailey Johnston | Lantern Reporter
The Ohio State University Police Department (OSUPD) has expanded its joint patrol program with the Columbus Division of Police (also known as CPD) to improve safety and resources for students living off-campus.
According to Dan Hedman, a university spokesman, the expansion will add four new patrol cars to the joint patrol, allowing for a stronger police presence in the areas surrounding campus.
“Joint Patrol is a partnership that brings together officers from both OSUPD and CPD and focuses on the off-campus area known as the University District,” Hedman said in an email.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety website, The program – which was reinstated in 2022 after being suspended following the retirement of its only OSUPD officer – initially included three OSUPD officers and a partnership with CPD. Now, Hedman said, there are eight officers in total.
“The program provides additional neighborhood patrols with four OSUPD officers and four CPD officers riding together in pairs four nights a week,” Hedman said.
OSUPD officer Thomas Schneider said the expansion of the program was made possible due to OSUPD’s staff growth since 2018.
Hedman agreed.
“Since 2018, the number of sworn police officers has increased from 56 to 75,” Hedman said. “So hiring more officers allows you to provide additional resources off campus as well.”
Schneider said providing these services to the University District is a key focus of this program, especially as more students have moved to the area in recent years.
“We’re seeing an incredible number of students moving to campus this year,” Schneider said. “More and more of our students are living off campus, whether they’re freshmen or later years, and we want to better serve them.”
Schneider said the partnership allows for information sharing between OSUPD and CPD. By expanding staff and patrol capacity, both departments can quickly share information on crime trends and local safety issues, Schneider said.
“Sharing information in real time, at a low level, where everything is happening live, is critical to policing,” Schneider said. “By being able to quickly share information about trends, issues or an emerging problem that needs to be addressed, we can get everyone informed immediately.”
CPD spokesman Sergeant James Fuqua said this interdepartmental communication has also helped reduce the stress victims have experienced in dealing with law enforcement over the past few semesters.
“The joint patrol team was able to guide victims through the investigation process and answer questions immediately,” Fuqua said in an email, referring to last year’s patrol unit. “Often it can take a long time for an officer handling the case to get a response or answer.”
The expansion of the Joint Patrol Program accompanies other efforts to improve security in the university district. Schneider said many electronic resources provided by the university are being used to monitor these areas.
“I think it’s important to add that the university has added the light poles, the license plate readers and the Buckeye Block Watch,” Schneider said. “There are also a lot of non-sworn personnel in the area that help share information to keep the campus safe and maintain campus security.”
Buckeye Block Watch consists of a team of non-sworn security guards who do not carry firearms, have no powers of arrest, and patrol off campus, according to an April 1, 2022, announcement from Ohio State. Article.
They are trained in mental health issues, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. website conditions.
