The precedent-setting agreement between Frostburg State University and the city of Frostburg should help substantially in making areas in and around the FSU campus a safer environment.
The agreement, approved by the city at its meeting last Thursday, allows university police to patrol off-campus neighborhoods. It also provides the city with $200,000 annually, with the money used to hire two additional city police officers, give pay raises to existing city officers, enable to Allegany County Sheriff’s Office to acquire intelligence-gathering equipment and provide more funding to Frostburg fire and ambulance units and the Shaft Volunteer Fire Department.
A number of tragic incidents involving FSU students have occurred in recent years, including the stabbing murder of a student outside a Maple Street residence last November.
The incidents spurred ongoing conversations among FSU, city of Frostburg and police agencies. The upshot is FSU’s decision to provide annual funding to help improve the resources needed to enhance safety.
Hundreds of rental homes exist within two blocks of campus to the north and to the east, with most having three or four occupants. Some of the streets where campus police will now patrol include Maple, Beall, Wood, Center, Bowery and Hill. Much of the police work will be proactive as officers attempt to stop trouble before it begins.
“Officers will simply stop and talk with neighborhood residents. They can also go to student groups and help them understand what they can and can’t do,” FSU Police Chief Cynthia Smith said.
The agreement more than doubles the number of officers who can now patrol the student rental neighborhoods.
Jonathan Gibralter, FSU president, noted that other universities in the state have patrol agreements, but this is the first time a university has agreed to set aside funding for the effort.
Keeping Frostburg residents and students safe is the objective of the agreement. Everyone involved in the planning and implementation of this new approach deserves commendation.
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