2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Opinions
Michael Martinsen has been named Wright State University Police Department chief. He was the decisive choice for the search committee, said Dan Abrahamowicz, Vice President of Student Affairs.
Until he starts working, Martinsen can't be judged. But in the past, the police chief has limited interactions with students to mass e-mail notifications of recent crimes. The new police chief needs to improve their relationship with students by communicating better.
As a college campus cop, their role is to serve students. Student dollars also help write their paycheck.
But most importantly, a better relationship with students would make the campus safer. When there were problems with theft in Residence Halls, WSUPD encouraged students by e-mail to report leads. When there was a bomb threat and possible gunman sighting last school year, there was never a face-to-face with the police chief.
Instead, the chief consistently passes messages to students through Communications and Marketing. If the chief regularly met with students in person, it could be preventative and productive towards crime. The police might even solve a case.
So this might as well be a letter to the new police chief to not start off on the wrong foot. So far, Martinsen has met students only in his interview process. He should be as accessible as another police chief candidate, Assistant Chief of Police David Finnie, who's been available most recently at John Legend's appearance.
Until he starts working, Martinsen can't be judged. But in the past, the police chief has limited interactions with students to mass e-mail notifications of recent crimes. The new police chief needs to improve their relationship with students by communicating better.
As a college campus cop, their role is to serve students. Student dollars also help write their paycheck.
But most importantly, a better relationship with students would make the campus safer. When there were problems with theft in Residence Halls, WSUPD encouraged students by e-mail to report leads. When there was a bomb threat and possible gunman sighting last school year, there was never a face-to-face with the police chief.
Instead, the chief consistently passes messages to students through Communications and Marketing. If the chief regularly met with students in person, it could be preventative and productive towards crime. The police might even solve a case.
So this might as well be a letter to the new police chief to not start off on the wrong foot. So far, Martinsen has met students only in his interview process. He should be as accessible as another police chief candidate, Assistant Chief of Police David Finnie, who's been available most recently at John Legend's appearance.
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