CAPTIMES, April 23, 1995 Penn State Harrisburg police officers talk about their jobs patrolling campus and helping college community By Kelley Thomas Staff Reporter Because community safety depends on its citizens and police services, Head of Penn State Harrisburg Police Services, Leonard J. Supenski, feels an open line of commu nication between two groups is beneficial to all involved. The Police Services want to develop a partner ship with the community at PSH by getting to know one another to create and main tain a safe environment. "Today police cannot do the job alone," Mr. Supenski wrote in the March 28 Capital Times Officer Dory Beard, Officer Philip Negrete and Officer Matthew Hathaway are the three full-time police officers at PSH. Officer Dory Beard Officer Beard has nine years of law enforcement experience, seven years of which she has been working for the PSH Police Services. "I like the students and I like the community at Penn State Harrisburg," Beard said. "I think the number one thing that the Police Services and the Penn State Harrisburg community needs to do is to make more positive contact." Beard likes to interact with the PSH community. "I am always one to listen to people," Beard said. Beard said that she vis its students living in the dorms, eats in the Dining Hall, and hangs out in the Lion's Den. 1 get 'thank you' notes," Beard said. 'lt is nice to know that people appreci ate my help." As far as the crime at PSH campus, Beard said that it will go in cycles. She said Campus forum reveals realities of stalking "The person who does the stalking always has the advantage,"said Chief of Police Services, Leonard Supenski By Mary Angelo Contributor Though you may not sus pect it, the person sifting next to you may fit the profile of a stalker, especially if he's "nor mal.- At a March 28 forum sponsored by the Public Affairs Club, a panel of five people ranging from attor neys to a police chief spoke of a problem rarely addressed: stalking. 'Most stalkers have some sort of relationship with their victims: said Dr. Toni Dupont- Morales, who prefaced the forum. 'Stalkers are often employed, educated, not crazy and most importantly, know how to find information on you The most important thing to remember is that there is that one semester there was a lot of auto theft, but the next semester there wasn't. "This semester has not been very active as far as crime," Beard said. "1 think the campus is safe, crime-wise, but anything can be a lithe more safer." Beard said she feels that the worst traffic violation made at PSH is sign violations - I do not think it is too much to ask to obey the 20 mile per hour speed limit back by the dorms in Meade Heights," Beard said. Most roads on campus are between 20 and 25 miles per hour. *We have children at PSH," Beard said. "If a child loses a ball, their focus is to get the ball, not the traffic." There are crosswalks at PSH that students cross all the time. 'People also need to be more aware of the pedes trians,- Beard said. 'The pedestrians have the right away." Officer Philip Negrete Officer Negrete has worked for PSH Police Services for six and a half years. 1 like it here," Negrete said. 'lt is a little slow, but that is good for the students." Negrete said that the new chief of police services, Leonard Supenski, has made a big difference at PSH. 'The chief is extremely knowledgeable," Negrete said. 'You will see a lot of changes made, but it is going to take some time." A lot of students at PSH complain about the vehi cle registration to park on the parking lot, but Negrete said that he does not think it is the pnce no set profile for a stalker, it can be anyone, Dupont- Morales pointed out. In 1993, Pennsylvania passed its stalking law. Robert Tarman, a Defense Attorney for the Harrisburg area concedes that there is little support mechanism for victims of stalkers because it is often so difficult to prove. "One of the problems is that these cases can lead to something much worse," said Tarman. "However, usually unless something has hap pened, such as aggravated assault, it's difficult to prove. Especially if there is a relation ship there." Leonard Supenski, chief of police at Penn State Harrisburg, agrees. After spending 30 years on the force in Maryland, he's seen "You spend $3.18 for a gallon of soda," Negrete said. "It cost you $l.ll fora gallon of gas, where you can drive almost 40 miles. It only costs 35.7 cents over a 24 hour peri od, to park your car here. If you parked at a parking meter or in a parking garage in the city of Harrisburg, you will pay $6 a day." Everyone at PSH must have their vehicle registered, whether you live on campus, commute to campus, or work on campus. "Nothing in this world is free,' Negrete said. 'Students have to assume that some- body has to foot the bill." Negrete said he feels that the biggest problem on campus are vehicle code vio lations like vehicle registration and campus parking. "This campus is like anywhere else," Negrete said. "But some students feel that they become somebody spe cial." Negrete has done a lot of other things off campus. Before becoming a police officer at PSH, Negrete was in the Coast Guard for four years as an electronic techician. Negrete is also cur rently a member of the coun try swat team in Pennsylvania, who graduated first in his class. Officer Matthew Hathaway Officer Hathaway was born in England and moved here in 1985. He graduated from the Police Academy at Harrisburg Area Community College, like Beard and Negrete, and started working for PSH Police Services. Hathaway is the youngest full-time police offi- many stalking and domestic violence cases, and they all involved relationships. 'Most of my experience is with people who have 'nor mal' relationships: said Supenski. 'However, looking back over a relationship, there will always be signs of controlling behavior." Individuals will often see these behaviors, such as one controlling what the other will wear, or to whom one should speak. Often, these individu als refuse to accept what they have is pathological behavior, said Supenski. Supenski also covered what he calls the 'four R's of stalking:" • Recognition: recogniz ing controlling behavior. • React: telling yourself that something must be done. NEWS cer and has been working here for two years, currently working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m shift. 1 like working here," Hathaway said. *Sometimes the job can be stressful, but it is pretty relaxing." Hathaway said he likes the small community atmos phere because he gets to know people by name and face. When Hathaway first started here with Police Services, he said he had one of his busiest nights. it was flooded really bad on Route 230," Hathaway said. 1 was push ing cars out of two feet of water." He said that he does n't mind working the late shift He said he does make himself visible even though it is quiet. "I drive by the Heights five to seven times a night," Hathaway said. "Generally the campus is safe, I think we add to it in a great way." Hathaway also said that the students should be more aware of the services that they provide. "We do offer a lot of services," Hathaway said. "We have an escort service, a patrol, better lighting and other things to make the campus a safer community." There are also five part-time police officers at PSH. Officer Canfied, Officer Roth, Officer Stonbaker, Officer Myers, and Officer Cope. In the future, PSH Police Services would like to get to know everyone on campus better and develop a partnership with everyone to maintain a safe communi ty. • Record: always keep a journal of events, this will make it easier for the police to help you. • Respond: put actions into practice. He emphasized how important it is to keep these in mind Deborah Curcillo, a dis trict attorney for Dauphin county, said that victims should try to break the cycle of violence, and get help. Most often, as a victim, you're forced to live your life as if you're in prison. The stalker enjoys having that control over you. "Prosecutors won't give a lot of attention to cases because of the interpersonal relationships," said Curcillo. 'We are making steps every day to look at it differently." Dory Beard is Penn State Harrisburg's only full-time female police officer. She has worked for the department for Matthew Hathaway is the youngest full time officer in Penn State Harrisburg's Police Services Department and has worked on the campus for two years. Officer Philip Negrete was unavailable for a photo prior to publication. A big problem are the people who file these com plaints, but then ignore them and accept the stalker, or harasser back into their lives Bill Braught, the assistant public defender for Cumberland county, said that the stalking law changed the seriousness of harassment, yet the difficulty with the law is that it is so diffi cult to approve. Dr. Ellaine Blassp confront ed the possibility of constitutional attack con cerning the model stalking statute. 'There has been an incredible flurry of activity in the United States considering stalking legislature," said Blass. 'The model stalking statute of 1994 has been influential in withstanding constitutional attack." seven years. The model statute has removed a course of con duct, which entails that a series of repeated action and/or incredible threat of violence should be included in the law. Because this is dif ficult to prove in court, it is easier now to prosecute the stalkers." Dr. Dupont-Morales also pointed out that it isn't just men who are doing the stalk ing. 25-27 percent of stalkers are females. Supenski warned against using firearms for protection,stating that too often, the gun a victim will purchase for protection will be used on them. "The person who does the stalking always has the advantage," Supenski said.
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