A network of emergency blue light intercoms are located outside throughout campus and are identified by a blue light atop a pole that houses the intercom. These intercoms have been placed throughout the campus and parking lots. In addition to the emergency intercoms, there are a number of closed-circuit television surveillance cameras, which assist in monitoring parking lots and other selected areas on campus. During winter months the nights slowly creep in longer and longer. It is commonly accepted that as the sun goes down, crime rates, driving under the influence, and violence rates go up.
Sinclair is one of the largest community colleges in the U.S. and as of today there are 18,687 students enrolled at Sinclair. The victims of crime on the Sinclair Dayton campus are about 1.76 per 1,000 students. That is roughly 33 incidences of crime that get reported in a year. However, especially with COVID lowering the number of students on campus every day, this number varies from year to year.
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It is not practical or helpful to go around life on campus in a constant state of fear and paranoia. So what are some practical things that anyone can do about all of this? Lt. Andrew Mayes, who has worked with the Sinclair police and public safety team for nearly 9 years, has taken the time to help to answer this especially important question. According to Mayes, the most common crime on Sinclair’s campuses is theft. Often, these are crimes of opportunity and could be prevented if the victim were following these four guidelines:
1. Avoid dimly lit areas. Sinclair’s campus is mostly lit during night hours for the very reason of preventing crimes.
2. Travel in groups and stay in public areas. There is safety in numbers. It is safer to be in groups of at least 3. This is a helpful way to keep you and your friends accountable.
3. Being aware of your surroundings. Knowing what is going on around you is crucial to your safety, and the safety of others. Being on your phone or listening to earbuds or headphones while walking from place to place are the main ways people make themselves more vulnerable to danger. Mayes recalled a case where a student was using a crosswalk while on their phone. There was a car coming, and even though the student had the right-of-way, neither the driver nor the student was paying attention and they had a collision.
4. Know where the Blue Light intercoms are. There are over 40 Blue Light intercoms throughout the Dayton Sinclair campus that will connect you directly to the Sinclair Police. Intercoms are also in each elevator. Knowing where the police department’s office is located on Dayton Campus is also a helpful tool: it is in building 7 on the first floor to the right of the Tartan Store.
The police department works in conjunction with the people they serve. The police cannot be everywhere at every time, and civilian-reported crimes help the police to better serve us. Sinclair’s police department motto is, “If you see something, say something.” Letting the police know of something questionable benefits not only you, but your community. Mayes said, “If you have an experience or witness something that you don’t think is a big deal, know that it means something more to someone else.”
Heaven Diastello
Reporter