Volunteer effort launched to prevent campus crime

Badger Watch, a new volunteer-based crime prevention effort modeled after the national Neighborhood Watch program, has been launched by the UW Police Department.

The pilot program, initiated by Central Campus community officer Kathern Paige, involves nine buildings located between North Park Street and Henry Mall. Paige hopes it will be expanded to include the entire campus.

“My goal is to bring 10 more buildings in my area into the program in spring of 2003, and all of the remaining central campus buildings by next fall,” says Paige, who met with the first group of Badger Watch volunteers in late September.

Building managers have recruited floor captains, and the floor captains are recruiting staff and students to provide extra eyes and ears for their campus “neighborhood.” They will be given the opportunity to receive training in office and building security, personal and property safety, and suspect identification.

One aspect of the program will involve printed safety tips that volunteers can post on office doors or in common areas where they see the potential for a crime to be committed. For example, the volunteer might see a purse left out in the open or a door left unlocked in an unoccupied office. The stick-on tip will carry a reminder: “Always lock your office or lock up your valuables in your desk or file cabinet.”

Eventually, buildings will have permanent signage identifying them as part of Badger Watch, as well as posters reminding building occupants and would-be criminals about the program.

Paige plans to hold two meetings each semester with her Badger Watch volunteers, during which they will give progress reports and share their thoughts about what is or is not working in their buildings.