Blue light demo features mock attack
Published March 5, 2004
Two students were attacked Wednesday near Memorial Union by a white male wearing a black leather jacket and skull cap in front of about 30 Missouri Students Association senators.
The women and mock assailant were part of a demonstration organized by the MU Police Department and MSA Senate Clerk Greg Chase to show how the blue light emergency telephone stations work.
"I think the demonstration was fantastic," Chase said. "It went better than planned."
After the attacker confronted the women, the victims used the emergency telephone station located near the south end of Memorial Union to contact MUPD. Crime Prevention Officer Jenna Redel arrived to the scene in less than one minute, according to witnesses. A second squad car arrived soon after as backup.
Interim Police Chief Jack Watring said Redel knew about the demonstration before arriving on the scene.
"We didn't want to just go push a button and respond because if the officer thinks something is really happening, the officer would respond with lights and sirens," he said. "That could create a dangerous situation. We made it as realistic as possible to show what would happen in a real situation."
Redel showed the onlookers how a typical response would be carried out.
"The telephone line would remain open the entire time to hear the interaction between the officer and victim," she said. "Each time the button is pushed, an officer has to respond to the scene."
Watring said it is important and beneficial to have demonstrations like this.
"Those kinds of things are important to the police department," he said. "It gives us the opportunity to explain the things we do, and it gives students the opportunity to interact with us in a positive way."
Redel said there are more than 170 blue light stations across campus, and they are checked every two weeks to make sure they are in working order.
Watring said the emergency telephone stations are used 22 to 25 times per month.
In 2003, MUPD responded to 300 blue light calls, and the average response time was about five minutes, Watring said.
"It's hard to talk about average response time because it's from the time the call button is pushed until the officer is at the location and clears the call," he said.
Chase said the demonstration was informative.
"A lot of people said it educated them on the procedure," he said. "It was neat to get the police officer's perspective."
The Student Fee Capital Improvements Committee is considering the addition of six blue light stations across campus, Chase said.
Watring said he would support the new lights.
"We could always use more," he said. "We are always in support of anything that would help increase safety."