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NEWS

A conversation with Chief John McCandless

Rachel Remy and Erin Bowen

They're patrolling campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week, each and every day of the year. Whether it's by car, foot or bike, the Miami University Police Department (MUPD) under the supervision of Chief John McCandless, makes student safety a top priority.

Yet for McCandless, reporting to work each day is not simply a job. McCandless said he and his staff focus each aspect of their work on Miami students.

"Students are the reason we are here," McCandless said.

McCandless on ... arriving at Miami

Prior to his arrival at Miami in June 2004, McCandless said he worked for 22 years in law enforcement in Michigan. McCandless said he spent the majority of those years with the Michigan State University Police.

While Miami may have a student enrollment of approximately 16,000, Michigan State University, located in East Lansing, Mich., has an enrollment of approximately 46,000 students.

When not on the job, McCandless said he is home with his family in Ross.

Ben Spilman, MUPD lieutenant, described McCandless as an outstanding leader.

"He is concerned with the people who work for him and the community he serves," Spilman said. "He's brought a number of changes to MUPD over the last four years that have benefited the department, the university and the community."

McCandless on ... day-to-day duties

With 29 full-time police officers, McCandless said officers patrol campus in order to be available to students in case conflict arises.

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"The patrol folks take reports, interview witnesses, suspects and victims," McCandless said. "They take accident reports, provide transports, make traffic spots ... everything any other police officer does."

In addition to patrolling campus, MUPD relies on four members of the clerical support staff, located at the MUPD Services Center on state Route 73. According to McCandless, these individuals run the behind-the-scenes aspect of the station.

McCandless said his staff assists with budgeting, scheduling, coordinating training, managing evidence and answering phones among other tasks.

"They also help citizens when they come to file reports and pick up copies of reports, as well as fingerprint civilians who might need that service," McCandless said.

While MUPD's home base may be off Route 73, McCandless said supplemental stations throughout campus assist in efficiency.

"We have two sub-stations," McCandless said. "(There is) one at King Library and one at Yager Stadium. These substations allow (officers) to write reports and interact with students, faculty and staff away from our station on 73."

According to McCandless, the on-campus sites provide more convenient locations to meet with both students and administrators.

And while the job of officers may be focused on safety, Keith Hibbard, MUPD patrolman, was available when students needed more than just protection.

Called to assist with a flat tire, Hibbard said he attracted an audience of students. As Hibbard changed the tire, he said he also provided students with a crash course in switching tires. To Hibbard, officers not only need to serve as protectors, but also as mentors and teachers.

McCandless on ... Miami students

In his four years with MUPD, McCandless said he has been impressed with the demeanor and conduct of Miami students.

"I have found Miami students to be exceptional students and citizens," McCandless said. "Miami really does get outstanding folks here and the vast majority of our students have very little if any negative contact with us."

While incidents do occur, McCandless said most instances are the result of poor decisions.

"Certainly some will make bad choices, but not many and not often," McCandless said.

McCandless on... alcohol

After his experience at Michigan State University and speaking with other university police departments, McCandless said he does not think Miami has a unique alcohol situation.

"I don't think Miami is different from other universities in regard to alcohol problems," McCandless said. "I am in contact with other university police chiefs, and we are all trying to figure out ways to reduce over-consumption and the tragedies that come with it."

According to McCandless, characterizing Miami as having more alcohol problems than other schools is unfair.

"I would not say Miami is the worst," McCandless said.

McCandless on ... educating students

To McCandless, the duty of protecting students from harm is as important as education and preventing future crimes.

McCandless said Campus Crime Alerts issued via e-mail are intended to inform students a crime has occurred, but also to offer ways students can protect themselves and their belongings.

While McCandless said MUPD has received mixed reviews on how many students view Campus Crime Alerts, the alerts are required by law.

In an effort to better understand and meet student concerns, McCandless said MUPD issued a questionnaire to students about police involvement on campus.

According to McCandless, most students said they would like to see the MUPD with a more visible presence on campus.

To answer this request, McCandless said more officers are patrolling campus by foot rather than by car, allowing for more student interaction and increased access to on-campus locations not accessible by vehicles.

McCandless also said MUPD has instituted programming in residence halls to promote protection among residents.

Joining McCandless in promoting student awareness about crime, Susan Mosley-Howard, dean of students, said there are two ways students can actively decrease campus crime.

To Mosley-Howard, locking doors and traveling in numbers are simple ways to ensure students will not be threatened.

Mosley-Howard said the university works with MUPD to actively prevent crime.

"As a university, Miami is very intentional about safety, always finding ways to enhance awareness, (so that students are) armed with awareness," Mosley-Howard said.

Once informed, Mosley-Howard said she hopes students will make safer choices.

"I want students to think before they walk alone at three in the morning," Mosley-Howard said. "Think before they do whatever it is they are going to do."

According to McCandless, campus crime rates for 2008 have remained consistent with past years.

"Arrests this year are running the same as previous years," McCandless said. "Students just need to keep locking their doors and walking with others for protection."

McCandless on ... the blackout "riot"

When students gathered in front of President David Hodge's home in mid-September, after winds from Hurricane Ike wiped out power for Oxford, McCandless and other officers lined High Street to control the crowd.

An experienced officer, McCandless said he would not classify the protest as a riot.

"I would not call what happened a riot," McCandless said. "I have worked in riots before in my 27 years of police work and that wasn't a riot."

McCandless also said he felt the police response was justified and controlled.

"I thought the police response was correct and from the comments I heard from the student population, things went as smoothly as they could under those circumstances," McCandless said. "I wish we would not have had to be there, however I did not hear any negatives about police conduct."

Despite the situation, McCandless said his opinion of Miami students has not changed.

"We didn't change our thoughts about the students, and I know it was a very small group of people who were throwing things from the back of the crowd," he said.

McCandless said he spoke to students who apologized for the violent conduct of select students.

"Many students that I spoke with that evening were upset about objects being thrown at the police," McCandless said. "I received several e-mails, cards and phone calls from students thanking us for the professionalism and restraint shown by all the law enforcement officers that were there the following days."


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