The D.C. City Council is scheduled to vote next week on a bill that would allow extended cooperation between campus police and the Washington Metropolitan Police force. The bill would potentially allow the Department of Public Safety to extend its patrol to areas outside of campus that are heavily populated by students, such as Burleith and West Georgetown. Currently, DPS is prohibited by law from patrolling outside Prospect Street, where most University-owned endowment houses are located.
Students dwelling in Burleith and Georgetown should face this prospect with appreciation, not trepidation. Although DPS claims to have a presence beyond campus perimeters, in truth, students living off campus are at a higher risk for being victims of crime than those residing within the well-lit and patrolled boundaries of the University. Although the relationship between off-campus students and Metro is sometimes strained, students should not object to more patrols in the area, despite the increased risk that their noisy weekend celebrations might be interrupted by an officer of the law.
The bill leaves ample room for negotiations between the University, DPS and Metro. Although it gives provisions for allowing DPS officers to make arrests on the street, it has yet to be determined how much power campus police would actually wield outside Healy Gates or how they would use it. When walking their beats on campus, DPS officers often enter University-owned townhouses and apartments if they suspect a party is taking place, even if the noise is not excessive. This freedom should not be extended to private residences rented by students; DPS should respond only to complaints about specific locations unless noise levels are clearly too high.
The ANC has already passed a resolution in favor of the bill, but Georgetown should seek student feedback before implementing any changes. The safety of students should of course be foremost in the minds of the administration, but the rights of students living off campus must also be considered and protected.
If DPS could avoid the temptation to spend the majority of its time policing student parties and instead focus on policing the streets, residents would benefit greatly. We all hope the day will come when students no longer fear their short walk to campus from Burleith or West Georgetown and when students no longer run the risk of being mugged if they can’t wait half an hour for Safe Rides. If the D.C. City Council passes this bill, Georgetown should take advantage of this prime opportunity to improve the lives of off-campus students and cooperate with DPS and Metro.
