Kalamazoo, MI: The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) and the Western Michigan University Department of Public Safety (WMUDPS) are pleased to announce a new collaborative agreement to help enhance the safety and welfare of residents and students living near Western Michigan University’s campus.
A Western Michigan University police officer has been assigned as the community policing officer for the Arcadia and Knollwood neighborhoods. The Arcadia and Knollwood neighborhoods are located on the western border of WMU’s main campus and has over 12,000 residents; including many WMU students who live in off-campus housing.
The WMU officer will be assigned to the Community Policing Unit within the KDPS Community Outreach and Problem Solving Division (C.O.P.S). The primary objective of the C.O.P.S Division is to utilize the knowledge and resources of various agencies to jointly tackle community based problems. The C.O.P.S. Division consists of officers assigned to the Community Policing Unit and investigators assigned to the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, which is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force.
The new Community Policing Officer has been tasked with building relationships with the students and residents in the Arcadia and Knollwood neighborhoods and to reduce crime through prevention programs and education. The WMU officer will act as a liaison between the residents, students, and business owners in the neighborhood, as well as between WMU Public Safety and KDPS. This will improve the coordination of efforts and resources of both police agencies and to help ensure that any identified crime trends, problems, or issues adversely affecting the quality of life are addressed.
This effort is the result of discussions that occurred between WMU and KDPS since early 2015. It is our sincere hope that this collaborative agreement will help to ensure a safe and productive school year for WMU students, staff, Knollwood, and Arcadia residents.
Date: August 25, 2016
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: KDPS Deputy Chief Donald Webster 269-337-8123
WMU Chief Scott Merlo 269-387-5573