Temple U. Extends Its Police Patrols For Several Blocks Around North Phila. Campus
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Temple University is extending its police patrols by several blocks around its main campus.
Charles Leone, executive director of campus safety services for Temple (photo below), says there have been discussions among the university's stakeholders on ways to improve campus security, including an expansion of police patrol areas.
But, he says, a student assault last spring made it clear that something needed to be done sooner rather than later.
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"And that moved our timeline up much quicker," Leone said today. "And we asked the question, what can we do to provide a more safe environment for our folks and, of course, for the neighboring community?"
Temple's patrols have now been expanded from 16th Street to 18th Street on the west, to Ninth Street on the east, to Susquehanna Avenue on the north, and to Jefferson Street on the south.
This morning, advertising major Amanda McGill was walking along 17th Street near Berks, one of the areas on the west side of campus now on regular Temple police patrol.
"I see them back here more often now than before," she said. "I think it's important to have it (the patrols) extended, because people live on these streets."
Temple will be holding another "listening circle" on Friday morning to get feedback on what has been done and what may still need to be done when it comes to campus safety.