Dedicated to safety

Stephanie Hussey of the Community Liasion Constables, Halifax Regional Police - the HRP Community Liasion Office is an active member of the Dalhousie University Community Committee. (Abriel photo)

Dalhousie and Halifax Regional Police have launched a program aimed at enhancing safety and building community in the residential areas around the university.

President Tom Traves and Police Chief Frank Beazley have announced that a designated police cruiser will be assigned to neighbourhood areas several nights a week during the academic year.

The program begins with HRP´s Operation Fallback from Sept. 1 to 15. Officers will patrol the residential areas, continuing the police initiative that was very successful for the beginning and end of the academic terms in September 2004 and April 2005.

Effective Sept, 15, the partnership will evolve into a dedicated patrol program. It will provide two special duty officers to staff a squad car, which will operate from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until the end of term in April, 2006. The staffing costs are paid by Dalhousie and the police are providing a patrol vehicle.

"Dalhousie recognizes that it is an integral part of the community," says President Tom Traves. "As such, we have a responsibility to address issues created by university activity and growth. This program is also a wonderful example of community co-operation."

The pilot project, which will be evaluated in December and April, will help enhance the quality of life for students and neighbours by ensuring students get home safely to residence and their apartments late at night. It is also aimed at reducing the level of noise and vandalism in the neighbourhoods.

"University students are a key part of the economic and cultural fabric of Halifax," says HRP Chief Frank A. Beazley. "With that role comes the obligation to be responsible citizens in the surrounding host neighbourhoods in which the students live while attending school."

The community patrol car will operate in residential areas in the neighbourhoods around Dalhousie and the University of King´s College, as well as around the Sexton Campus in the downtown. The officers will respond to complaints about noise, acts of vandalism, and other incidents of unacceptable behaviour.

The patrol is one of three Fall initiatives of the Dalhousie University Community Committee. The committee began work in the winter of 2004 to help heal the relationship between Dalhousie, the University of King´s College, their students and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The second edition of the student guide, Living in the Halifax Community, A Guide for Students, will be delivered door to door to students in the south end of peninsular Halifax before Labour Day. Students in residence at Dal and King´s will be holding a litter pickup day in the neighbourhoods on Saturday, Sept. 17, followed by barbecues for the neighbours.