Continuing crime in the Charles Village area has prompted Executive Director of Campus Safety and Security Lee James to consider additions to security technology used by the University to improve campus safety.
Recent events, like armed robberies at nearby 7-Eleven stores, an attempted robbery at the 7-Eleven at the Homewood Apartments, robberies of local homes and businesses and attempted assaults, have worried students and parents.
Campus Safety and Security is currently working on choosing an app that will improve student accessibility to security services and shorten response time.
“I’m not going to say the name of it right now but we’ve recently contracted with a company to provide a campus safety app,” James said.
Among other features, the app will allow students to get in touch with Security without dialing a phone number. Specifically, students will be able to contact security via a messaging service in the app. They will also be able to send Campus Safety and Security video, picture and audio files.
“If you’re in a situation and something’s happening and you hit the app... you’ll be able to get some quick information to us,” he said. “As you’re texting or as you’re sending us a file or a video, my dispatcher is getting that. We’re seeing what you’re seeing.”
He mentioned that the goal is to have this app launched this spring and will be available on iOS and Android systems. The app will also include other mechanisms to reach resources offered on campus pertaining to safety and security.
“We want to incorporate resources that student affairs has — counseling services, Res Life services — all the things that we think will help to keep students safe,” James said.
James also discussed a plan for improving the University’s camera system. There are many older cameras on campus which Campus Safety and Security is strategically looking to replace.
“Normally... they’re pointing in one direction,” he said. “I want 360 degrees. We’re working on a strategic plan to identify where we can put 360-degree coverage on these cameras across the campus.”
He also recommended adding cameras to areas that do not have enough or have none at all.
“We have some areas of the campus, for example San Martin Drive,” he said. “It’s an isolated area, and we want to put some more eyes on that location with cameras.”
In addition to technological advances, Campus Safety and Security constantly analyzes patrol areas and then decides how many patrol officers to assign to each spot.
He said that a reason more of the reported crime happens off campus is because of the numbers of officers around campus, particularly around areas that students frequent like 33rd and St. Paul Streets.
“If you notice, we have a lot of officers in that general area because... that’s where our students frequent, whether they live off campus or on campus, and that’s why we flood that area with a lot of security,” James said. “I think that works because if you look at the robberies, the Northern District Reports that BPD gets, a lot of that seems to be outside the area.”
Several robberies, some armed, have occurred at an off-campus 7-Eleven located at 211 W. 28th St. In January 2015, there was a robbery at the 7-Eleven located at 3003 N. Charles St. at Homewood Apartments.
Though the majority of the robberies have been farther off campus, their proximity and occasional occurrences on campus has raised concerns for students.
Though the BPD is responsible for incidents outside the patrol zone, Campus Safety and Security is working with the city to patrol the area adjacent to the W. 28th St. 7-Eleven.
While little can be done by the University to prevent crime from happening in an off-campus location, James said students should be alert while walking on the street given that a robbery can happen anywhere.
“The thing is to pay attention,” James said. “I really stress that people need to pay attention to their surroundings, to who’s around them.”
James emphasized that cell phones are a major distractor in situations.
“We’re always on them, we’re always texting, we’re always listening to music... we’re doing a lot,” he said.
On Jan. 27, Campus Security released a security alert reporting an attempted kidnapping on the 3200 block of N. Charles Street.
“The lone driver displayed a black semi-automatic handgun and told the student to get in,” the statement said.
Campus Security sent an update about the incident on Jan. 29 and then reported on Feb. 9 that the investigation was closed.
“The BPD found that the incident involved an Uber driver on a transport call and a female undergraduate pedestrian who was mistaken for the intended passenger, and that no weapon was involved,” the statement said.
Some students commented that they feel safe despite the frequency of reported crime.
“I do feel safe on campus,” sophomore Daphne Schlesinger said. “There’s lots of HopCops all the time. I think that even though they don’t have guns, it’s more the presence that really create the sense of security. In a way feeling safe is the most important thing, and that creates actual safety.”
Junior Aaron Cary echoed similar sentiments of feeling safe at Hopkins and using “street smarts.”
“Being from Baltimore already, I feel pretty safe at Hopkins and in the surrounding campus area,” he said. “I typically have an understanding of where not to go, and as long as I behave myself appropriately and don’t go looking for trouble, then I’ll typically stay out of it.”
