U. of I. Police remind students of medical amnesty
URBANA – The University of Illinois Police Department is reminding students of protections for those who call for medical help when someone’s had too much to drink. State legislators passed a law in 2015, and new rules go into effect on June 1 which protect underage drinkers from legal trouble when they call 911 for someone in need of medical assistance. U. of I. Police Chief Jeff Christensen said he hopes the new state law will remove students’ apprehension toward calling 911 when they have been drinking alcohol. The fear of getting in trouble for underage drinking sometimes prevents people from calling 911 and [...]
VIDEO: UIPD responds to first-grade student’s question
https://youtu.be/thH4J5bgyMg A first-grader named Megan sent a letter to the University of Illinois Police Department, and she had a question its staff members didn't want to leave unanswered.
Safety in numbers: Student Patrol plays dual role
At any given time, the Student Patrol employs as many as 39 students who work closely with University of Illinois police officers to watch out for other campus community members through programs like SafeWalks.
Generous donation helps police fight DUI
URBANA – Thanks to a generous donation, University of Illinois Police will be equipping one of their squad cars with a new in-car camera system expected to help strengthen court cases against drunken drivers. On Friday, Jim and Barb Esworthy and their Journey Foundation announced a donation of $9,553 to the University of Illinois Police Department for the purchase of the camera system, which provides valuable video evidence of field sobriety tests conducted on drunken drivers. The high-definition footage is valuable evidence in prosecuting people who choose to drink and drive, putting others and themselves at risk on the road. [...]
Police officers ditching the razor for ‘No-Shave November’
URBANA – U. of I. Police officers again this year are going scruffy for a good cause. Police will participate in “No-Shave November,” a month-long initiative during which participants forgo shaving to evoke conversation and cancer awareness. The effort will generate a bit of money for the cause, too: Because growing facial hair bucks the normal appearance standards for sworn police personnel, officers and other staff members will have to make a donation to participate. The department is easing its rules on officers’ facial hair from midnight on Nov. 1 to sunrise on Dec. 1. Officers who are more, say, [...]