Search UMB News:
There are no emergencies on campus at this time.
Sign up for UMB Alerts.
University News Archive
Police Escort Usage Increases
October 20, 2014 | By Patricia Fanning
Those who regularly use the police escort service at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
say it's a timely, trustworthy UMB benefit that's easy to use and
reduces their anxiety about returning to their car or residence after
dark. Their only question is why more people don't utilize it.
"I'd urge people to use it. It's there. It's free. It brings peace of
mind," says Taylor Cole, a
student at the School of
Dentistry. "I wouldn't feel safe without it. I didn't grow up in
the city so I wouldn't go out at night if it wasn't offered."
The UMB Police Force's van and walking escort service is available to
all University students, faculty, and staff and employees at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
The walking police escort service is available on campus 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year. Times of the van service recently were expanded
as were its boundaries, which extend three blocks beyond the campus
borders on all sides.
Van service now stretches to Schroeder Street on the west, Franklin
Street on the north, Park Avenue on the east, and Washington Boulevard
on the south. Police van escort hours have been extended to 3 p.m.
through 1 a.m., with two seven-passenger vans operating during peak
hours, between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m. And additional personnel will be
dedicated to coordinating van escorts, ensuring better customer
service.
UMB Police Chief Antonio "Tony"
Williams, MS, said at the Oct. 14 Safety Matters at UMB Town
Hall "I used to tell Dr. Perman, 'hey I can make them drive the van but
I can't make them smile.' Now we have some people who like to smile and
chat with you while they're doing it. The whole idea is we want to
provide superior customer service to you."
To arrange a police van escort or walking escort, simply call 6-6882 on
a campus telephone or 410-706-6882 and a uniformed officer will be sent
to your location. Riders are required to have either a UMB or UMMC ID.
Beth Friedman, BSN '14, a
graduate of the School of
Nursing who is now a surgical staff nurse at UMMC, says that phone
number has been invaluable to her. "Friends ask me all the time 'how do
you get home? What's the number [for the police escort service]?' They
gave us the number the first day as students and I've given it out like
candy ever since."
Friedman, who works on rotating shifts, says her life would be far
different without the police escort service, which she uses several
times a week. As a student she would take it from school or the library
to her residence. Now she gets rides from the medical center to the
garage after dark.
"I've been safe the last three years because of the police escort
service," Friedman says. "If it wasn't here? As a student, I'd
definitely limit going out, make curfew earlier, stay at someone's
house more often. The service has made living in Baltimore very
comfortable."
She says the service isn't just for people going long distances across
campus. "A lot of people overestimate their ability of what they should
and shouldn't do," Friedman says. "They say it's only three or four
blocks. Why chance it? Be safe. Use the police escort service."
Sidrah Khan says she learned
her lesson as a first-year nursing student when she was walking at
night and someone came up from behind her suddenly. "I never made that
mistake again," she says. "At night, I always call the police escort
service."
She's not alone. Just between Oct. 1 and Oct. 9, 2014, there were 404
calls to the UMB Police Force for escorts. In September, there were 756
requests, which all were met. The UMB police would like to see that
number rise.
"We want to hear from every community member who wants a walking or
van/mobile escort," says Lt. Virginia Chapko, who oversees education
and training for the department. "We don't want anyone to feel that
this service is not available to them."
Adds Williams: "It is our department's goal to provide a ride to anyone
who doesn't feel comfortable walking on campus when it's dark."
Despite the increased demand, the police van or walking escorts usually
arrive promptly. "Maybe 30 minutes on a bad day," says Meghan Kemp, a law student who uses
the service less now that she has a closer parking spot. She remains a
big supporter of the police escort service. "I recommend it, it's just
safer at night. Better safe than sorry. You can't be too safe."
It's not just for women either. Patrick
Mensah, a pharmacy student, uses the police escort service as
many as four times a week. He admits he gets some ribbing from larger,
stronger friends who feel they can better protect themselves "but I
won't compromise on that," Mensah says. "My safety comes first. I study
late and I don't know how I would have made it without the police
escort service."
Nursing student Henry Inegbenosun
agrees with Mensah. He often studies at the library until 1 at night
and has to cross Martin Luther King Boulevard to reach his residence.
"It's a student safety thing, not a gender thing," says Inegbenosun,
who rides the escort van up to four nights a week. "Sometimes we use
the buddy system and travel in groups, but when I'm by myself, I call
for a police escort. It's just the smart thing to do."
UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD,
reminded those at the safety town hall to stay off their cell phones
when walking outside. "Of course, the phones themselves are popular
targets for thieves," Perman says. "But it is the loss of awareness of
one's surroundings that presents an even greater danger."
Williams urges those at UMB to let his department know how they are
doing and to call 711 (on a campus phone) or 410-706-3333 to report any
suspicious activity. "If you feel there is something we need to
improve," he says, "please let us know." Concerns, comments, and
suggestions can be sent to SafetyQuestions@umaryland.edu.
Perman's support is unwavering. "Among all the things we do here," he
says, "there is absolutely nothing more important to me and to the
leadership of the University than the safety of our students, our
staff, our faculty, our partners, our friends, and our neighbors."
This web application is maintained by the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Center for Information Technology Services.
For troubleshooting or technical assistance, please contact CITS Web Development.
- © 2024 University of Maryland, Baltimore. All rights reserved.
- Site Map
- Privacy
- Web Accessibility
- Web Feedback
- Non-Discrimination
- Core Values
- Directory