C.O.P.S. (Community Oriented Police Service)
Community Policing at the Western Connecticut State University Police Division is the full service of personalized policing, where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, working in a proactive partnership with the University students and staff to identify and solve problems. Community Policing relies on foot and bike patrol and encourages the community to interact with the officers. Some of the strategies that the department has in place to enhance the community policing initiatives are:
- A crime prevention officer that speaks with students and hands out information on issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, theft and safety tips.
- High visibility of officers and student patrol personnel.
- Security survey services for buildings, facilities or departments.
- Community participation in identifying problems on campus.
The University Police Division has a C.O.P.S. officer who is available on day shifts (7am-3pm). The C.O.P.S. officer is responsible for the coordination of all community oriented police activities, serves as a liaison officer with university residence life offices and student groups on campus. The C.O.P.S. officer conducts many program's in conjunction with the Crime Prevention officer.
