After a recent surge in armed robberies, University Police will temporarily broaden its patrol areas to include off-campus neighborhoods.
Traditionally, University Police and Gainesville Police have kept separate jurisdictions, with UPD handling on-campus crime and GPD covering the city. But with the increase in robberies occurring away from UF, Gainesville Police spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said during a press conference Wednesday his department can’t do it alone.
"With this spreading out, we need some extra help," Tobias said.
The department’s expansion will include neighborhoods north of Midtown and east of Sorority Row.
Reports of armed robberies in the city have increased since last year, said Officer Ben Tobias, GPD spokesman, in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. He said 155 robberies were reported to GPD last year. So far this year, 150 to 200 robberies have already been reported.
Along with calling on UPD for help, GPD also announced it would suspend in-service training programs to get those instructors on the streets. Some specialty units within the department will also be reassigned to help out.
"We can’t, unfortunately, solve all crime in Gainesville," Tobias said. "But we’re gonna do everything we can to reduce the opportunities that criminals have to victimize Gainesville residents."
To adjust to the change in patrol areas, UPD will need to move around officer shift schedules, said Maj. Brad Barber, UPD spokesman.
"We will be looking, organizationally, into how we will work these patrols," Barber said. "We will not, however, compromise our responsibility for campus safety."
Camila Guillen, 22, said relocating resources is good idea because she thinks campus is generally safer and more students live off-campus.
"I feel like if the attacks are happening off campus, it would be good to patrol that area more," the journalism senior said.
UF biology senior Gebreyes Kassu said he only agrees with the plan if it’s temporary because the new patrols might take away from UPD’s job on campus.
"But realistically, I think it doesn’t matter," the 25-year-old said, "‘cause in the end we always get the last email saying, ‘Suspects not found.’"
Contact Martin Vassolo at mvassolo@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @martindvassolo
