MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University police and Morgantown police hope to take a team approach to enforcement in a section of the city occupied mostly by students.
“We’re calling it the Greek zone, which is from Prospect on up the hill, where we want to go into partnership with the Morgantown police and actually start patrolling those areas and answering calls in those areas,” explained WVU Police Chief Bob Roberts.
The area is within city limits and includes property not owned by the university.
“I think it’s an opportunity for us to direct some of our resources into community policing and problem solving in those areas and allow Morgantown to focus on other hot areas,” commented the chief. “I think it’s a good idea all the way around.”
City manager Jeff Mikorski is expected to recommend council members support the Police Cooperation and Assistance Agreement at Tuesday’s meeting. The proposed agreement is between the WVU Board of Governors, University Police Department and the City of Morgantown on behalf of the Morgantown Police Department.
The Greek zone includes 21 fraternity and sorority houses adjacent to WVU’s downtown Morgantown campus.
“We’ve got a couple of officers we’re going to dedicate to that zone who will work on the proactive policing and community policing and building relationships. We’ll hit the ground running,” Chief Roberts said.
While the cooperative approach doesn’t necessarily come from discussions of a change of culture on WVU’s campus, it coincides with those talks. According to Roberts, the plan has been in the making for months.
Following the November 2014 death of an underage student who had been drinking at a fraternity party, WVU administrators implemented a temporary moratorium on Greek life events, brought in national consultants to work with fraternity and sorority leaders, hired additional administrators to directly work with Greek life members and encouraged a medical amnesty program designed to allow students to seek medical attention for themselves or friends without fear of getting in trouble.
More than enforcing laws and watching for nuisance parties, University police can make referrals to WVU programs.
“We have avenues in getting some of the students into resources that the university has that perhaps MPD doesn’t have access to. They certainly have some city ordinances that we don’t have access to. So, I think in that respect, it’s a perfect marriage if you will,” Roberts projected.
The 12-month pilot program wouldl be reviewed quarterly by both departments.
University officers would operate under Roberts command. The agreement maintains city police continue to have jurisdiction in the “Greek zone”. Should it become necessary, WVU police would defer to city police.
Any expense incurred by WVU police for patrols and enforcement is the university’s responsibility in the proposed agreement.