Volume 2, No. 28 June 14, 2002
SCAD unveils fleet crime watch program By Gene Friedman The campus safety office has initiated a new program under the Bee Safe crime prevention umbrella: the Campus Fleet Crime Watch. SCAD has taken the concept of the neighborhood crime watch and put it on wheels. There are many SCAD employees driving college buses and trucks throughout Savannah going from one campus facility to another. Because it is estimated that 35-40 percent of violent crimes occur on city streets or in parking lots, our goal is to enlist these drivers as additional eyes and ears for both the campus safety office and the Savannah Police Department. Simply by being alert for this activity as they drive through the city, drivers can notify the appropriate authorities to respond to emergencies and dangerous situations. Drivers thus have a unique opportunity to ensure the safety of SCAD while also helping to make the entire community safer for their own family and friends. To begin this program, the safety office held a training session for all SCAD bus drivers. Eventually, every driver of a college vehicle will be trained and incorporated into the fleet crime watch. Drivers are asked to be observant and to report dangerous or illegal activities that might be seen during their trips. It was emphasized that no one should be embarrassed if their suspicions proved to be unfounded; the consequences of not acting could be much worse than some momentary embarrassment. Also firmly emphasized was the point that participants in Campus Fleet Crime Watch are observers only. Their sole function is to observe and report. Drivers are told that under no circumstances should they become involved in an incident, confront anyone, or take any action. Additionally, drivers should not attempt to follow a vehicle or person, restrain a person, or act as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician unless they are certified as one. During the course of the day, drivers may observe an emergency situation or crime in-progress. These incidents should be immediately reported to either the police or fire department. Examples of an emergency that may be observed by a driver are a house fire or a vehicle accident with injuries. An in-progress criminal activity that might be seen during the course of a driver’s shift is a burglary, where someone is observed breaking and entering into a building. Similarly, a driver may observe a fight or a robbery taking place on the street. In addition to emergencies and crimes in progress, drivers are encouraged to report suspicious, dangerous or unsafe conditions. An example of an unsafe situation that should be immediately reported is a malfunctioning traffic light at the intersection of a street. Promptly reporting this to the traffic department might very well prevent an accident which could result in injury or death to others. The campus safety office is particularly pleased that this program is the first in the city of Savannah and one of the very few in the country. Further adding to our pride is the fact that it was initiated well before a national trucking industry group announced to great fanfare that they were starting a similar program and asking their drivers to report suspicious activities. Once again, SCAD is leading the way and making a significant contribution to our community. Through this awareness program and others, we want to eventually add the eyes and ears of all SCAD students, faculty, and staff to this effort, so that the college, as well as the city, will be safe. Friedman is the director of campus safety.
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