The U of Utah police Depart. admits they don’t have the means to protect you, do who does if not you ?
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—– Original Message —–
From: James D. Vilos
To: James D. Vilos
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 2:20 PM
Subject: U of U Campus police not prepared to respond in timely fashion

No worry. Terrorists have pledged to restrict their attacks on schools that
are “gun free” to schools in Chechnya!!!

Campus police need more vehicles
By Amanda Friz
Published: Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

Media Credit: Lonny Danler
Patrol Officer Aaron Lawrence prepares his car for the next officer as he
wraps up his shift last week.

Campus police may not be prepared to respond to calls in a timely fashion
because the department lacks the means, said U patrol officer Aaron
Lawrence.

The problem occurred Monday morning when officer Rick Bishop did not have
the Slim Jim he needed to help a student into his locked car, and this could
happen again under more pressing circumstances.

Seventeen officers share seven patrol cars that are not always fully
equipped and fueled, according to Lawrence. The cars must remain at the
station, and if a patrol officer is responding to a call after hours, he or
she must drive his or her own vehicle back to the station.

Having added that a lack of vehicles can impact response time, he said more
vehicles would be “pretty good. It’d be nice if we had a car per man. That
way, we could respond in a timely manner.”

Police Chief Scott Folsom said the force has only seven vehicles because “we
don’t typically call back uniformed officers [after his or her shift is
done].”

According to Folsom, the lieutenants, sergeants and detectives are called
back to the campus most frequently, so they have their own cars.

The vehicle problem, however, creates a morale issue with some police
officers who tend to “compare themselves to what their colleagues are
doing.” These officers become jealous that city police have their own cars,
he said.

Bishop agreed that the lack of patrol cars is problematic. “We’re the only
agency in the state that doesn’t [have them],” he said. “It’s hard to keep
officers up here because they can go somewhere else and basically get a free
car.”

Though Folsom said he would like to provide a car for every cop, the funding
is insufficient.

A university’s “primary function is to educate students…Getting [a larger]
public safety budget is a bit of a challenge,” he said. “There’s a public
perception that law enforcement has the resources to handle everything.”

Compared to Utah State University, the U is in good shape. According to USU
Sgt. James Nye, the campus has three cars for seven patrol officers and
three others for the administration.

Still, Lawrence said he wishes the officers did not have to worry about
being short on vehicles.

“We would know what’s in there and what needs to be replaced. It’d be nice
to have your own car to keep clean and equipped,” he said.

Though he also would like to have more cars, Bishop said he disagreed with
Lawrence on one point.

“Usually we have pretty good equipment. We write up immediately if we have a
problem,” and the staff fixes it, said Bishop.

James D. “Mitch” Vilos
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 1148
Centerville, Utah 84014
Local Tel.No.: (801)295-3340
Mobile: (801)560-7117
1(800)530-0222
Practice Concentrating in Accidents and Personal Injury, Insurance Law,
Medical Malpractice, Defective Products, Workplace Injuries (not Worker’s
Compensation), and Firearms Law (representation of gun owners in criminal
actions, and expungements).