THE DISPATCH
NOVEMBER 2020
THE DISPATCH The University of Scranton Police Department
IN THIS ISSUE: A Message from the Chief Policing During the Pandemic Spotlight: Student Officer Jess Lagas Quick Tip - Fall Driving Safety Emergency Planning and Response
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF by Chief Donald Bergmann
After the campus closed in March, we found ourselves alone, seemingly forgotten while everyone else worked remotely to finish out the 2019/20 academic year. It was eerily quiet patrolling a deserted campus. I was relieved when we began to see colleagues start to trickle back over the summer months in preparation for a fall semester opening. Crime stats have never been lower, but with the new health guidelines, our efforts shifted focus to ensuring students followed the Royal Safe Together guidelines. The first weekend back was concerning and would have been amusing if there wasn’t so much at stake as residents in the Hill Section, true to form, were hosting events in their front yards, flagrantly disregarding the University’s pleas to follow the guidelines.
Columnist Chris Kelly wrote in the Sept 9th issue of the Times Tribune, “Unfortunately, beer pong and social distancing don’t mix” and referenced eye witness accounts of rowdy behavior near the University of Scranton campus. Although the University refuted the account, clearly Scranton’s eyes were on us. When SUNY Oneonta posted 670 positive cases, students acknowledged that partying was irresponsible, but claim the school did nothing to provide oversight. We recognized then we would be in the challenging position of ensuring offcampus residents were following the guidelines. Local residents were quick to call on those who they suspected were hosting, regardless if the students were following the guidelines or not. It became even more challenging once those who continued to disregard the guidelines became more covert.
UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Fortunately most students were responsible enough to carefully abide by the guidelines. I was both surprised and relieved when an offcampus student anonymously dropped off a note and small token of her appreciation, recognizing us for our efforts in the Hill. Dr. Davis continues to express his gratitude for everyone’s efforts as colleagues deliver meals for students in isolation and play host to residents at the Retreat Center who are in quarantine. We are nearing the end of the semester and see the light at the end of the tunnel. In spite of our staffing shortages, everyone has remained positive and committed. I look forward to looking back on this semester and having a sense of accomplishment and wonder, that yes those were unusual times. I am sure none of us will forget this semester.
