PULLMAN, Wash.—The formal opening of the Community Police Center in McCroskey Hall on the Washington State University campus is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony in McCroskey Room 30G is set for 3:45 p.m. Participants will include Sallie Giffen, vice president for business affairs; William Mercier, director of public safety and campus police chief; and Neil Walker, student body president.
The center is the first of other campus offices planned to bring police services closer to students. It is funded by a 3-year, $75,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department.
It will be staffed by police officers afternoons and early evenings for approximately 20 hours a week. The department hopes to train volunteers so that the hours of operation can be expanded.
Students may contact officers there about incidents and seek help with student academic projects, according to Captain Michael Kenny, coordinator of the community policing program. Printed materials and videos on a range of subjects including crime prevention, domestic violence, traffic safety and safety in the residence halls will be available.
He said the primary objective of the program is to get out into the student community and seek help from students and volunteers on crime prevention issues. “This is particularly advantageous to work with the international students in McCroskey Hall who may not be accustomed to meeting police in a friendly atmosphere. We’re enthusiastic about implementing these new concepts of community policing programs,” Kenny added.
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