Joining a National Trend

The COPS program began more than 18 months ago when Riley approached the department about jumping on the national bandwagon of community policing.

The movement toward community policing began decades ago but got a big push the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which put more than 100,000 officers on street and neighborhood patrols.

"It's the wave of the future in police work," says McCarthy, who runs the Cabot House substation with Officer Jim Pinone.

This February, sergeants who volunteered for the program began preparing for the program's launch by meeting with tutors, proctors and House masters.

"We were laying a foundation," McCarthy says, "starting to get to know people, and giving the administration someone to go to."

This summer, the officers took a series of 14 three-hour training classes to prepare them for their new roles. The classes, which included learning the structure of University administration, public-speaking skills and sensitivity training were a big help.

"There were officers who have been here 20 years that learned things they never knew," McCarthy says.

'Tutor With a Gun'

Finally, this fall, officers began developing contacts with students through meetings, office hours and informal conversations.

McCarthy, for instance, introduces himself to students as their "tutor with a gun."

"We're responsible for getting you through your college life safely and to give advice, so how is that different from what a tutor does?" McCarthy says.

Officer Bryant says the program has improved relations with students.

"Just last night I was walking around the yard and four students came up and said 'What are you up to Kevin,'" he recalls. "I said, 'Nothing much, hanging out.' They said, 'You want to go eat?' I said, 'OK, sure.' So I went, and that would have never happened without the COPS program."

McCarthy says he agrees. "It makes the community feel better about police, It's not like, 'Oh God, the police are here.' Now it's, 'Oh it's Jim, he can help us out.'"