Police provide services, aid : Campus officers hold seminars, protect TCC community
by Josie Snodgrass, Reporter

   TCC's police department is gearing up to make each campus safer for the fall semester.
   To ensure the safety of all students, faculty, staff and campus visitors, the campus police provide a secure environment for everyone on campus.
   TCC employs certified Texas peace officers, who hold the same police power as a municipal officer.
   Each campus maintains a solid working relationship with Arlington, Fort Worth, Hurst and surrounding cities as well as county, state and federal authorities.
   "Recently, Arlington PD provided three days of intense training for the campus police," Lt. Grady Patterson, SE campus, said. "The city police really work with us well," he said.
   The campus police operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
   The police department also keeps the campus community informed of any criminal activity that takes place on and off campus.
   Special notices are distributed when criminal activity occurs that might become a threat to students and staff.
   "Flyers are used to gather information to help with cases where the subjects are known; people then call and give us the information we need," Patterson said.
   The police work with other college departments to provide seminars on sexual assault and rape awareness. Announcements with dates and times are posted on campus as well as in the college newspaper.
   The department strives to increase awareness of crime prevention techniques and help students reduce the chance of becoming victims. Its Web site (http://web.tccd.net/district/tcc_police.asp) presents statistics on crimes committed.
   Crime prevention specialists make presentations on personal safety, campus safety and rape prevention, as well as other topics available upon request.
   National Get Carded Day, Sept 23, will feature an event sponsored by RAINN, the rape, abuse and incest national network. Crime prevention officers will distribute cards with tips to reduce the risk of sexual assault and steps to take if sexually assaulted.
   The campus police department encourages students, faculty and staff to help maintain safety on and off campus.
   "We want students to always be on the lookout for suspicious behavior and report any they see," Sgt. David Herndon, NW Campus, said.