Riley adds that trespass warnings for the entire campus are not given out often.

“Also to get a letter of trespass, I have to be convinced by administrators about [the person’s] behavior or fear of behavior,” Riley says. “They are not given out lightly and they are given out infrequently.”

Herms’ interest at Harvard extends beyond security and into the world of labor. His website contains a description of his involvement with a conflict between Harvard University and the Harvard University Security, Parking and Museum Guards Union.

According to the site, the project was undertaken for a Harvard Extension School course from 2001-2002.

INSIDE INFORMATION

Two sources familiar with StalComPol’s investigations, who agreed to comment on the condition of anonymity, say they believe Herms has an agenda to portray Harvard in a negative light.

The sources, who are no longer affiliated with the group, are quick to acknowledge that they personally dislike Herms.

One of the sources says that Herms has had a “vendetta against the Harvard police chief” since he received a trespass warning during the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) sit-in in April 2001.

At that time, Herms says he threw packets of nicotine chewing gum to protestors since they were unable to smoke inside of Mass. Hall.

“He’s been scheming for a while about how to get back at them. He reportedly created an impartial consulting firm...and Harvard would seem to have an abnormally high crime rate,” the source says. “I honestly would not trust anything he had to say.”

But Herms, who stresses the objectivity and good intentions of StalCommPol, says he has no ulterior motives.

“I feel very positive towards Harvard,” says Herms, who says he first became interested in violent crime prevention because he dated a woman who had been a rape victim. “And I’ve realized that everyone at Harvard is not working in the University’s interest. I’m glad I can do something to help Harvard and help students.”

But another source says that the students Herms employs do not share his stated goals.

“The money is ridiculous. That’s why people do it,” he says, adding that StalCommPol research associates receive at least $17 cash per hour. “The people in the group have no interest in Jake Herms or his mission. They’ll never tell you this because Jake is so adamant about what he thinks he’s doing.”

—Staff writer Hana R. Alberts can be reached at alberts@fas.harvard.edu