Over the past few weeks, there have been several incidents off campus involving confrontations with, and burglary of, students. These incidents have involved a handful of Troy youth, both on foot and bicycle. Most recently, a 16-year-old resident of Troy, considered to be the main suspect of these incidents, was apprehended during the week of September 20. Victims of the recent incidents have identified the youth, who is currently in custody awaiting a hearing.
According to RPI Public Safety Chief Jerry Matthews, Public Safety has been working closely with the Troy Police Department, especially with regard to the recent apprehension. There has also been an increase in the presence of officers, uniformed and plain-clothed, patrolling within and around the campus perimeters over the last three weeks. Matthews expects the use of plain-clothed officers to continue into the foreseeable future, and continues to work collaboratively with the Troy Police Department to achieve the goal of keeping the campus safe.
The Troy Police Department is currently investigating the many reported cases of tire slashings that happened near campus around Eagle and 13th and 14th Streets this past weekend. Matthews expressed uncertainty as to the involvement of RPI students in the incident.
With regard to the most recent burglaries, Matthews encouraged students to follow a few key safety tips and utilize the services offered by Public Safety. Matthews urged students to not react aggressively if confronted, stating that “The single most important thing to do is to get yourself out of harm’s way immediately.” In addition, Matthews emphasized the importance of maintaining up-to-date contact information on the Student Information System should Public Safety need to reach a student in case of an emergency.
Also, students are urged to carry their RPI ID at all times and to report any crime immediately—whether they were victims or witnesses of this crime—in order to facilitate the apprehension of suspects and aggregate relevant information.
A few of the services provided by Public Safety are: the escort service, which operates on and off campus within a reasonable distance; the Rape, Aggression, and Defense self-defense classes for both men and women; and the Ride-Along program, which allows students to accompany Public Safety officers during their patrols and shift activities. The RAD self-defense courses will be offered at least twice this semester, and possibly more often depending on interest. Personalized safety tips are also available to students. More information is available at the Public Safety website: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/public_safety/index.html/.
