KALAMAZOO, MI -- In the wake of a few serious crimes on or near the campus of Western Michigan University this school year, the campus police department will soon assign liaison officers to the WMU dorms.
A resolution passed by the Western Student Association this month requested that WMU Department of Public Safety assign one officer to the Valley neighborhood and one to the main campus residence halls.
Taylor Hall, a student who helped write the resolution, said one of the reasons for the request is the recent serious crimes on campus.
"I would say there have always been some issues, but maybe now they're being reported more often. So it's a good time to have some campus safety initiatives," Hall said.
There have been two armed robberies on campus this school year and other incidents of violence near campus. On Oct. 29, two students were robbed between the Sindecuse Health Center and Sangren Hall by suspects armed with a handgun. Then on Feb. 1, a student was robbed at gunpoint by two men inside LeFevre Hall.
Another armed robbery occurred Sept. 29 at the university-owned Asylum Lake Preserve where a man was robbed of a cell phone.
Hall also said the Western Student Association conducted a survey of 215 students that found many students are not well-informed about the campus safety initiatives and services.
"A lot of them didn't know basic safety stuff provided at Western," Hall said. "So we came up with some ideas to get police more involved with people on campus."
WMU Public Safety Chief Scott Merlo said he supports the plan and had a similar idea when he was interviewing for his current job.
"This was one of my goals when I got hired. I am 100 percent behind it. It is a way to interact with students on a consistent basis," Merlo said.
Merlo said having officers in and around the dorms will allow them to build relationships and trust with students.
"If we put the officers and students together to share information and concerns, we will be more successful as a campus community," Merlo said.
The chief also said he agrees with the student association in that students could be more informed about the public safety services offered.
"Students need to know we have a police escort service to provide rides for those who are walking alone on campus and don't feel safe," Merlo said.
Merlo said he doesn't think crime has increased on campus but a few serious crimes this year have put campus safety in the spotlight.
"We've had armed robberies on campus and crimes adjacent to the campus that have garnered headlines. It makes all of us stand up and take notice," Merlo said.
The initiative will begin in the "very near future," Merlo said.