ELLIS_CRIME STORY
The Safety and security of staff and Students has been an obligation always undertaken by the University of Alaska. I had an opportunity to interview Lieutenant Michael Becker, an officer at UAA Police Department about the state of crime in UAA community and more specifically, whether cases of violent behavior have increased or decreased. The officer’s view was that even though crime rate related to violence has increased in Anchorage’s urban center, the same cannot be said of University of Alaska. I also asked him how a person on campus can report crime cases to which he responded that one can contact the 911 hotline for help. In addition, the officer said that one may contact or call the UAA Campus police with immediate effect of any crime.
In case the crime is non-life threatening, the officer provided 786-7711, which one can call. Furthermore, I inquired from the Lieutenant about the role of police after a crime has been reported. He stated that that the UAA Police Department offers the necessary resources and assistance in investigation of the breach of campus policy. Another question to the officer regarded criteria used in prioritizing case reports to which Lt. Beckner said that crimes that are life threatening such as sexual and physical assaults and robbery are addressed first by UAA. Thus also involves providing escorts to any student that may need their help.
Another issue that arose during the interview is the assurance by the department that students being investigated on account of crime against another person in same classroom or campus will be separated through a non-contact order. I also sought to know the last time sexual assault crime was reported. The officer said that such reports involved two cases in 2015, one in 2016 and none has been reported in 2016. The officer observed that crime had dropped on campus as compared to previous year. At the conclusion of the interview, I asked Lt. Becker about how a follow up on victims is conducted by Police Department. In his words, a personal talk with the victim is done by the officer and when they can’t be reached a call is made to them. The contact with the victim may proceed to six months.
