Dads Association grant will help expand bicycle patrols
URBANA – The University of Illinois Police Department will be able to expand its bicycle fleet thanks to a $1,895 grant from the University of Illinois Dads Association. The additional presence is meant to increase police visibility in campus areas inaccessible to patrol vehicles, like the main and Bardeen quads and other high foot-traffic areas. Bicycle officers are also an important presence during special events, like Fighting Illini football games. “Bicycle officers can cover a lot of ground that a walking patrol officer or vehicle-based officer would not be able to get to on a routine night,” said University of [...]
Top cop on campus
Jeff Christensen concludes a career with the University of Illinois Police Department.
Signup now available for spring self-defense courses
https://youtu.be/mF_N0Fr_UIQ URBANA — Students and others may now sign up for R.A.D. self-defense courses offered during the spring 2018 semester. The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) system is a comprehensive course being taught at colleges around the country. It begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance before progressing on to basic hands-on defense training. R.A.D. is primarily for women. "It's personal empowerment, but also an education course," said Detective Robert Murphy, who teaches the course. "Essentially, it's skills that everyone has, we're just kind of honing those skills." The course is highly-reviewed by past participants and is in high-demand at colleges [...]
Students advised to protect their belongings as finals approach
https://youtu.be/sUoGfKqzVBE URBANA – University of Illinois Police say it’s a good idea to register your cellphone, laptop or other property, especially as final exams approach. In 2016, bicycles, phones, computers and wallets were among the most common items stolen, together comprising 62 percent of all thefts reported. In about three out of every four thefts, the items were left unlocked and unattended – some just for a couple minutes or seconds. Among other places, libraries and gyms were commonly targeted by thieves who know that students are more likely to leave their belongings unattended in those places. “It’s important to [...]
Police Chief Jeff Christensen to retire
URBANA – University of Illinois Police Chief Jeff Christensen will complete a 32-year law enforcement career when he retires at the end of December. Christensen chose to make the announcement now to allow the campus enough time to ensure there is no disruption to the department’s efforts to maintain the safety of the campus community. Deputy Chief Matt Myrick is expected to be name interim chief of police beginning Jan. 1, 2018. UIPD has not been without Christensen since he started as an undergraduate Student Patrol officer in 1983. He was hired as a police officer upon his graduation from [...]