UPD spent winter break in training

While the empty UB campus continued to sleep during its final week of winter holiday, the University at Buffalo Police Department conducted in-service training drills on the vacant grounds.
The exercises were specifically 'active shooter' drills, in which a mock assailant with a simulated weapon is disarmed and brought into custody. The officers involved in the drills were required to attend brief lectures, and then participated in physical instruction.
'It is good policy, in general, to conduct these drills several times a year to maintain tactical skills,' said UPD Chief Gerald Schoenle. 'These drills are important to help prevent against, and to deal with, incidents like the recent armed attack in Brockport.'
Still in the shadow of the attempt on Northwest flight 253 this past Christmas day, and taking into account the university's recent history with violent crime, UB students have mixed feelings in regards to the drills and their practicality.
The exercises are done regularly, several times a year, 'but things are still happening,' said Brittany Sliter, a junior nursing major.
'I suppose the police can't be everywhere all the time, but it's frustrating knowing that people are getting away with armed robbery' says Sliter, as she recounted a story of a student who was assaulted with the butt of a pistol and robbed. 'It is comforting to know that the police are taking measures to remedy the campus security problem, but working nights, even on North Campus, is still pretty scary.'
According to UB Crime Statistics, a majority of the violent crimes, namely aggravated assault and robbery offenses, occur on public property.
'We have the most trouble off campus, but I hardly ever see a University Police car on North Campus; it tends to be on South Campus that I see the majority of the cops,' Anthony Parrella, a sophomore business student and South Campus resident, said.
But despite student worries, Schoenle still sounds confident in his plans for the future regarding campus security and its subsequent effects on student life. The drills took place on North Campus, and were fitting, yet unspecific, to the campus geography.
'They were standard drills, but important nonetheless,' Schoenle said.
Aware of the concerns for North Campus, Schoenle made knowledge of the drills public 'to prevent any cause for alarm, given the drastic increase in police presence on campus. But also, perhaps just knowing that we're making efforts to improve and maintain the integrity of our policing will put some people's minds to rest.'

E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com