2008 Woodie Awards
OPD works to curb back-to-school crime
Police partner with neighboring departments to double enforcement
Stacey Skotzko
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Front Page
The patrolling law enforcement in Oxford is more than doubling this fall, with the Oxford Police Department (OPD) hoping to avoid an often-traditional influx of crime during the first few weeks of school at Miami University.
The OPD announced Aug. 13 the formation of a new law enforcement partnership among themselves, Miami University Police Department, Oxford Township Police Department, Ohio State Patrol, Ohio Investigative Unit and the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
The 2007 Safe School Start Initiative will more than double the amount of patrolling officers in Oxford during "peak activity periods," namely weekends.
Sgt. Jim Squance of the OPD said the normal patrol strength on, for example, a Friday night during fall and spring semesters is eight to 12 officers. With this new alliance, an additional 12-15 officers will be on Oxford's streets.
"We are specially trying to address the incidents of violence at the beginning of last school year and the end of last school year," Squance said. "With the over consumption of alcohol and the tragic accident with Beth Speidel, we are trying to address these issues and make the beginning of the school year safer."
Squance referenced the death of sophomore Speidel, 19, who was hit and killed by a CSX train at about 1:45 a.m. April 14.
Uniformed officers will be in marked units, on bicycles, and patrolling walking beats both uptown and in the Mile Square. Plainclothes officers will monitor alcohol sales and consumption in bars, in addition to "proactive party patrol" at private residences.
Officers will be on the lookout mainly for noise, littler and alcohol-related violations, Squance said.
The OPD had 44 reports filed involving Miami students for Aug. 14-19. Eight were involving party litter, one was for an outdoor furniture restriction (a beer pong table in a yard), and 25 were liquor violations-mainly for underage consumption.
There were also two assaults, one involving a male assaulted by an unknown person on High Street and another with two males, both assaulting each other.
The OPD announced Aug. 13 the formation of a new law enforcement partnership among themselves, Miami University Police Department, Oxford Township Police Department, Ohio State Patrol, Ohio Investigative Unit and the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
The 2007 Safe School Start Initiative will more than double the amount of patrolling officers in Oxford during "peak activity periods," namely weekends.
Sgt. Jim Squance of the OPD said the normal patrol strength on, for example, a Friday night during fall and spring semesters is eight to 12 officers. With this new alliance, an additional 12-15 officers will be on Oxford's streets.
"We are specially trying to address the incidents of violence at the beginning of last school year and the end of last school year," Squance said. "With the over consumption of alcohol and the tragic accident with Beth Speidel, we are trying to address these issues and make the beginning of the school year safer."
Squance referenced the death of sophomore Speidel, 19, who was hit and killed by a CSX train at about 1:45 a.m. April 14.
Uniformed officers will be in marked units, on bicycles, and patrolling walking beats both uptown and in the Mile Square. Plainclothes officers will monitor alcohol sales and consumption in bars, in addition to "proactive party patrol" at private residences.
Officers will be on the lookout mainly for noise, littler and alcohol-related violations, Squance said.
The OPD had 44 reports filed involving Miami students for Aug. 14-19. Eight were involving party litter, one was for an outdoor furniture restriction (a beer pong table in a yard), and 25 were liquor violations-mainly for underage consumption.
There were also two assaults, one involving a male assaulted by an unknown person on High Street and another with two males, both assaulting each other.
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