p6U6£
Continued from Page 1
who had the )ob before him. and from Carey
Drayton, director of the University'* Office of
Public Safety, to "rosolve some issues before they
become issues."
Baker is participating in an ongoing series of
"Community Policing Forums." organized by
Drayton and Jan Oliver, assistant vice president
for institutional affairs.
The meetings are giving OPS and KPD officers a
chance to meet with student leaders to discuss
some of the Issues and problems between law of
ficers and students.
Somo of the main concerns students expressed
at the first meeting involved what some perceive
as police harassment of transients at the corner of
13th Avenue and Kincaid Street and unequal
treatment of students of color.
Irj addition to the forums, Baker said he would
like to help organize mootings with officers and
students during orientation, so a good relation
ship Is ostabllshod from the start.
For example, students often complain they are
targeted for bicycling tickets, but Baker said he
wants pnople to know bike laws are enforced pri
marily for rider safety.
"If poople are going through a stop sign and get
a tickot. that makes a pretty bad first impression,”
Baker said. "People might think we re picking on
bicyclists. They might think they're being set
aside as students."
Two meetings havo taken place so far and will
continue throughout the year. Both Baker and
ASUO President Bobby Loo describe the Initial
meetings as successful and productive
“(Studonts) want the same thing we want,”
Baker said. "They want a greater understanding
of how wo work, whero we're coming from and
we want the same."
It’s all part of a bigger effort by the Eugono po
lice to move toward community policing prac
tices. whore officers are well-known on their boat
and citizens foci comfortablo approaching and
talking to them
Baker said officers on the campus boat are lead
ing tho way with programs like the liaison with
the University's fraternities.
"That was community policing. It's working to
gether for an understanding." Baker said "In
stead of I and you. it's wo. That Intrigued me, and
1 wanted to get Involved."
In years past. <}<) percent of the contact people
had with police officers wus of the enforcement
nature, so that was negative contact in their
minds, Baker said.
"There's always going to be (enforcement), but
wo need to focus also on interaction." Baker suid.
"We need to feel that a uniform is not symbolic of
people thinking 'Oh no. here they come, we're go
ing to get pinched,' but 'hey, thero's Dennis,
there's Kon.'
"I think that's the direction we re hoadixl —
getting students and police officers involved in
community.”
Ken Saxon, an officer who covers the West Uni
versity area, is a good example of the difference
that ran make. Baker said.
"People know him personally and thero's been
There's always going to be
(enforcementA but we need to
focus also on Interaction. We
need to feel that a uniform Is
not symbolic of people
thinking "Oh no, here they
come, we’re going to get
pinched.0'
— Sgt Dennis Baker,
FPD University liaison
a reduction In the crime rate In that area," Baker
said. "It's not because Kon Is Superman down
there, but it's the community holping him out."
Baker, along with several othor sergeants, re
quested the )ob after Cline decided to retire fol
lowing 32 years on the force, including four on
campus. His job U to supervise the four Eugene
police officers under contract with the University
to oversee the urea.
Bakor, already an tB-yoar veteran, expects to Ur
on campus for throe to five years — the average
for the job. And ho anticipates that his work here
will give him a hoadstart in community policing
when he moves on to another beat.
Cllno's advice to Bakor was to mako strides
right away to understand student issues and make
his own concerns known
Baker said one of the messages he wants to get
out Is that ho and the other officers tire around
not only to enforce laws but to protect rights
"Wo wunt students to know that they can pri>
test if they want to," Baker said. "In fact, they cun
come to us und ask us how to do It legally."
Lee commends Baker for approaching the job
with that attitude.
"Dennis is going out of his way to meet peo
ple." Lee said. "That's what I was looking for I
wanted to have on officer who's very approach
able to students.
"The idea is that we want police officers to la:
part of the community hem, and we want stu
dents to pomoivo that," Lee said. "We also want
to break stereotypes about each other ”
It's especially important now, with relation
ships between students and the police getting
worse, Loo said.
"It's no secret that some wulls have gone up on
both sides," he said "Bui they are a resource,
whether we like It or not. and we need to use
them to the best advantage"
Drayton also saw the problems escalating and
"decided we should pull together before It goes
too far," Lee said
Baker said ho wants students to fool comfort
able in coming to him with questions about law
enforcement on campus, citations or any other is
sues He feels that things are moving in a positive
direction, but summer is traditionally a quiet time
and he'll find out soon enough If the now ap
proach works.
"I feel good about about what we're going to
do." Buker said. "But the proof Is tn the pudding.
When It gets down to It. then we ll sen if this
works."
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