UF Chief of Police Linda Stump and Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones hosted a press conference Monday afternoon at the UF Police Department regarding the recent string of assault cases both on or near UF’s campus in the last 10 days.
“Safety on our campus is a shared responsibility,” Stump said as the conference began.
Stump said UPD, Gainesville Police, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Fe College are joining forces to catch the man who police believe assaulted a fourth woman Sunday night.
All four victims put up a fight, Stump said, which attracted attention and eventually stopped each assault.
“They fought, they yelled, they defended themselves, and they did it very well,” Stump said.
In each case, the man fled the scene on foot.
All departments are urging the community to join in the effort to find the individual responsible for these crimes.
Stump said UPD is expanding its Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol services in an effort to shorten the amount of time someone has to wait for a ride on campus. If rides are not available, Stump said her department pledged to offer students police escorts so they do not walk alone.
Several campus organizations are joining to walk students to and from their residences on campus, Stump said.
Police patrols will be expanded throughout campus, Stump said. Officers that typically work traffic or other daily responsibilities are being shifted to nights. GPD officers will be on campus as well.
Vice President of Student Affairs Dave Kratzer said students should download the TapShield mobile application, which can update friends and roommates with the user’s location and call police with the click of a button.
Kratzer strongly recommended students walk in pairs and always remain alert and aware of their surroundings.
“If you see something suspicious, please give us a call,” Jones said.
None of the blue light emergency phones were utilized during the on-campus attacks, but students are urged to use them if needed. Even if students don’t have time to pick up the phone and call UPD, just knocking the phone off the hook will send an alert to UPD.
UF Student Government declared it Sexual Assault Awareness Week on Monday, and a rally was held on the Plaza of the Americas that afternoon.
“We’re coming after you,” Stump said of the suspect.
[A version of this story ran on pages 1 - 4 on 9/9/2014 under the headline "UPD, GPD address public about campus assaults"]
