8
THE DIAMONDBACK | NEWS | THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2012
Univ. Police hope to develop canine unit Officers training four black Labradors to adjust to campus environment BY JEREMY BARR For The Diamondback
University Police are awaiting news on whether four potential members will join the department, but first the recruits need to prove they can sit, stay and heel. For the last several weeks, officers and police dog trainers have been coaching four black Labrador Retrievers to follow commands and adjust to the campus environment in the hopes of developing a canine unit. University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky said police are planning to integrate the dogs into the force but declined to give more information. Additional details will be released in August, if any dogs graduate from the program.
On a Friday afternoon late last month, a few of the dogs were led through Stamp Student Union, sporting bright orange vests stamped with the message “Don’t Pet,” to ward off unwanted attention. Representatives from the North Carolina-based K2 Solutions, Inc., and police officers accompanied the canines and occasionally threw a toy their way. Labradors can smell 17 odors used in homemade explosives, according to the U.S. Central Command. In addition to preparing dogs for law enforcement roles, K2 offers training in land mine and IED detection. Limansky declined to confirm whether the university hired the company. A 2003 University of Cen-
tral Florida study showed college students see value in canine units to deter crime and curb illicit drug use. However, several students at this university said they have concerns about the increased police presence. Junior Melissa Pevey said she was alarmed when she walked by the Stamp food court and saw a training session. “It just looked angr y,” she said. “I feel safe on campus as it is.” However, Stamp Associate Director Steve Gnadt said police dogs periodically train in the location. Through those collaborations, the university can call on local law enforcement when a canine presence is needed on the campus and those departments benefit
from exposing dogs to a hightraffic environment. “We host enough high-visibility events that it’s a good building to do some training in,” Gnadt said. Kara Robinson, a senior psychology major, said she thought the dogs weren’t intimidating but would have to see if they turned out to be an impor tant asset to the university. “I think they have the potential to be useful,” she said. “They also have some other potentials too — to be a problem.” “I’m just going to feel like I’m always being watched,” Pevey added. “Bringing dogs on campus kind of makes me feel like it’s not a safe campus.” news@umdbk.com
More DUIs occur in June, police say Increase common for summer months, but more than last year’s number BY SARAH TINCHER For The Diamondback
As students relax and take advantage of ever y minute not spent in class, University Police officers have cited more people driving under the influence of alcohol — a trend they said isn’t unusual for the summer months. Police responded to 31 DUIs last month, compared to 22 in June 2011. This June’s number was more than double May’s 12 incidents and a spike from the average of 20 each month for the last year, according to the University Police website. Although most of last month’s incidents only arose out of minor traffic violations and didn’t cause any damage, spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky said, some officials said the increase is a result of
increased drinking habits among students. To combat the problem, officers have taken precautions to identify impaired drivers when monitoring roads at night, Capt. Robert Mueck said. They look for unsafe practices such as weaving in and out of lanes, running red lights or sitting at green lights and pull those drivers over. It’s been how they’ve made most of their citations. “We’ve suffered real losses,” Mueck said of students drinking and driving. Students drink more heavily and frequently than in years past, said College Park defense attorney Steve Jacoby. He also noted students seem to start drinking at a younger age. “[Students] don’t see the bills for the alcohol,” Jacoby said. “Most students now
have their parents’ credit cards.” In one incident, an officer saw a car make an illegal turn at a red light on June 2. An officer pulled over the driver, who was unable to pass the field sobriety tests and, after being arrested, was found to have a blood alcohol level of .16, according to police records. Some students, however, said their experiences drinking and driving have been far worse than a mere traffic violation. A spring 2012 graduate, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he drank and drove on his graduation day. He said he can’t recall most of that night’s events; he only remembers starting his car and driving out of the parking lot of his friend’s apartment before he rearended a car on I-95. “I don’t remember getting
“[Students] don’t see the bills for alcohol.” STEVE JACOBY COLLEGE PARK DEFENSE ATTORNEY
out of the car, but I remember the car being in flames,” he said. “I don’t understand how I survived that accident.” While officers hope students learn to not repeat the same mistakes — or learn from their friends’ experiences — Limansky said some are simply belligerent when they are pulled over. “Don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking,” Limansky said. “It’s not worth the loss that could happen if you’re involved in an alcohol-related crash.” news@umdbk.com
University Police have been training four black Labrador Retrievers to obey several different commands in the hopes of soon developing a canine unit. JEREMY BARR/FOR THE DIAMONDBACK
DEVELOPMENT from page 1 the development is “completely unsympathetic” to the scale and character of the neighborhood and has galvanized more opposition than any development she has seen thus far. But Michele La Rocca, an attorney representing R&J Company, which is responsible for the project, said the development is in accordance with the sector plan because the Book Exchange’s bordering properties — including a sorority house and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church — are institutional buildings, rather than residential. The nearly 500,000 squarefoot property, located on the corner of College Avenue and Route 1, would add 313 apartment units, more than 14,000 square feet of retail space and two levels of parking. La Rocca and former County Executive Wayne Curry both emphasized the county planning board voted strongly in favor of the development, in a 4-1 vote. “If you didn’t listen carefully today, you would get the impression that the board has no bearing on today’s meeting,” Curry
said in the hearing. A letter from Facilities Management Associate Vice President Carlo Colella — who spoke during the hearing against the development of the building, which he described as “monolithic in mass” — described the building as a “big box with cut-out holes” and expressed concern that the courtyards would not be big enough to let sunlight in. Senior history major Matt Curley does not see a need for the development. “I think it would be good to build downtown College Park up, but I’m not sure that another apartment is the way to do that,” he said. “It doesn’t seem like a worthwhile venture.” But senior Doug Dell said he doesn’t see any harm in transforming the Book Exchange. “That doesn’t seem too horrible. I don’t see why not,” Dell said. The county council also voted 7-2 in favor of rezoning to allow the proposed Cafritz development south of College Parkto go forward despite concerns over traffic increases. news@umdbk.com