University Police hiring unarmed community service officers
URBANA, Illinois – The University of Illinois Police Department soon will begin deploying unarmed community service officers to non-emergency incidents in the campus area, and the department is hiring right now. Four community service officers will be available to respond to less serious calls for service. That should free up sworn officers to do more proactive crime prevention work and help with response times to more serious offenses and crimes in progress. “CSOs will be a great complement to our existing police staffing and enhance our overall service to the campus community,” said Executive Director of Public Safety and University [...]
‘Cherries and Berries’ event rescheduled for May 4
This has been reposted to reflect the updated date and time after the event was rescheduled. The event will happen on May 4. URBANA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Police Department is collaborating with the Illinois Army ROTC, Chez Veterans Center, Urbana Park District and the YMCA to invite community members to family-oriented event to support wounded veterans. The event – called “Cherries and Berries” in reference to the red and blue lights on police cars – will happen from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign South Quad. Attendees can expect a [...]
UIPD Perspectives: Protection of minors specialist committed to keeping kids safe
By Abbigail Kepp URBANA, Illinois — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign creates educational and developmental spaces for people of all ages, children included. With so many events throughout the year for which minors will be present on campus, University Police have processes in place to keep kids safe. University Police are highlighting the program in observation of Child Abuse Prevention Month. One person in particular serves as the central manager of those efforts. In 2019, Stephanie Vogelsang was hired as the Protection of Minors Compliance Specialist. The position was created when university administrators determined that having a full-time employee dedicated solely [...]
Payment for services
The student’s brother had entered into a professional services agreement with an unknown person online, and the student agreed to accept payment for that work on his brother’s behalf. The unknown person sent a check exceeding the amount that the student’s brother was to be paid, with instructions to cash the check and return the difference. The student recognized the likely scam and turned over the fraudulent check to the police.
Tax fraud
A U. of I. student reported that someone had filed a fraudulent tax return in his name. The student is working with the Internal Revenue Service to resolve the identity theft.