With crime nearby, Temple plans to hire more police & other security staff

Temple University is hiring additional police and security officers in the wake of concerns about increased criminal activity, mainly off-campus, a university spokesman said yesterday.

Students, staff and faculty at the North Philadelphia university learned of the enhanced security measures in an e-mail sent Tuesday from Carl Bittenbender, executive director of Campus Safety Services.

In addition to increasing its own police and security officer corps, Temple also will pay the Philadelphia Police Department to increase patrols in neighborhoods adjacent to the campus, the e-mail said.

Within an hour on Dec. 13, three Temple students were robbed at gunpoint in separate incidents as they walked near university dormitories in the middle of the day, according to Philadelphia police reports.

None of the students was injured. Police said all the victims told them that the attacker demanded money while holding a silver handgun.

Yesterday, university spokesman Ray Betzner said no major crimes had occurred on campus since the start of the new year.

Betzner said reports of crime have increased in neighborhoods just north and west of campus, but not on campus.

"I think it's a good idea," Alexandra Foster, a Temple graduate student working on a certification in special education, said yesterday of the plans to hire more officers. "I'm glad they're taking steps to protect people who are just trying to get their education and get a good job."

Betzner said the university hopes to hire 10 to 12 new sworn police officers, who complete the same police-academy training as city cops. He said the new hires would bring the university police force to about 135 officers.

He also said 15 to 18 other security officers, who usually staff security desks in buildings and check identification cards, would also be hired.