To The Editor, Students, Faculty, and Staff of Lake State:

First, the Public Safety Department would like to apologize to the Compass Staff for the delay in this response to Ms Halliday’s letter.  The delay was caused by an investigation into the allegations raised in her letter.  

This investigation included a review of the number of citations being issued, comparing this year with previous years.  In all actuality, the number of citations that have been issued has decreased in comparison to two years ago. 

Ms Halliday was also asked to supply the name(s) of any student officer(s) who was said to be involved in such a contest.  As of this date, Ms Halliday has not complied with the request.  As a result of this lack of information, the accusation remains unsubstantiated.

Finally, the possibility of any such ‘contest’ has been addressed during staff meetings with the student officers.  They have been advised that such behavior is unwanted, unwelcome, unprofessional and, if it were to occur, could result in the termination of employment for any and all students involved.  

Humor is a part of the law enforcement officer’s defense mechanism.  One of the easiest ways to deal with adverse job conditions is to make jokes about it.  Issuing citations when the weather is bad, when people constantly challenge an officer’s judgment, and when an officer is criticized for simply doing their job, can certainly be frustrating, tedious, and unpleasant.  Perhaps what Ms Halliday’s friends overheard was simply a misplaced attempt at making light of a difficult situation.  

The Student Auxiliary staff of the Public Safety Department here at Lake State is a vital, necessary part of the day-to-day operations of the department.  They assist the full-time staff in maintaining a safe and secure environment for all those who utilize the campus, be they students, faculty, staff, or visitors.  These students report for training a week before the start of each academic year and are required to attending additional training throughout the year.  They work around the clock, on weekends, and when classes are canceled due to adverse weather conditions.  A great deal is expected of them and they have done more than rise to every occasion they are asked to take part in.

The Public Safety Department welcomes any and all questions or concerns from students, staff, faculty, or visitors.  We encourage those with questions or concerns to either stop in at the Public Safety office or contact us at 635-2100.  Concerns may also be addressed to Dr. Ken Peress, Vice President of Student Affairs, at 635-2634.

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