Comments on Questions About UW Security

Link to Jonah's story doesn't work in Firefox. 404 not found.

This is the correct link:
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=223484

This happens so often on Slog, I think they need remedial linking lessons or something.

@1,

Sorry about that. Fixed it.

Wittmier says the increase in domestic-violence reports is "really draining us" and has created "a higher workload."

I feel *really* bad for you, Ray. I'm *so* sorry that you have to do your frickin' job. Asshole.

The UW police department needs to be cleared out. Thoroughly. If their priority is more cracking down on speeders and jaywalkers than stalkers, there needs to be a major realignment of priorities.

And stop operating in CYA mode, Emmert. Just make the changes that are needed.

And btw... this is much better than the crap that you posted right after all this started. Thanks for an insightful investigative piece.

I'm not sure the shooting could have been helped: that was a random, terrible crime that was equally the fault of SPD, which had received multiple complaints (off campus, it must be mentioned) about the guy that eventually shot that lady, yet did nothing. Why not rake them over the coals for that?

Also, I'm not sure what the subject of this story requested, an escort, is honestly feasible. It's not feasible on any campus. Can you imagine how many requests there would be? How many dozens of female students have asshole stalker ex-boyfriends, on a campus with tens of thousands of students/faculty and even more random visitors and passers-by?

This is a problem but 'provide those threatened with police escorts' isn't a feasible answer. Perhaps more coordination with SPD would work here, but even they have a problem with addressing stalkers, as the Rebecca Griego case showed.

We have blue phones to request rides after hours ...

Oh, those coeds and their boyfriends. I had SCADS of them when I was a young sorority sister.

Why bother the police? Can't they get some lesbians to walk them around? Some of them are downright mannish! Plus, everyone knows they hate men.

I don't know if an escort to class during the daytime is feasible, but I can't believe they don't have some sort of CSO program for escorts after dark.

There used to be an after-dark escort program - UW Cares. I used to tell my tour groups that "UW Cares, but only between 5:00 pm and 12:30 am, Sunday through Thursday, and only if you're going from one point on campus to another. Otherwise you're SOL." The program was discontinued a year or two ago due to (so I've been told) lack of funding and low use.

There used to be an after-dark escort program - UW Cares. I used to tell my tour groups that "UW Cares, but only between 5:00 pm and 12:30 am, Sunday through Thursday, and only if you're going from one point on campus to another. Otherwise you're SOL." The program was discontinued a year or two ago due to (so I've been told) lack of funding and low use.

Not that it is any of my business, but why wasn't the rape followed up on? That was sort of glossed over.

Re: the "how can they provide escorts to every female student with a stalker boyfriend..." argument, seems like they could cross that bridge when they come to it. It would be nice to know what the increased workload of the police actually entailed - are there 50 other women requesting the same thing? Or is she the only one? The article was good, but it would be nice to have a better idea of how many complaints of this kind the UW police received.

I agree with Gomez. The UW is not a simple little Mayberry that Sheriff Andy can take care of. Wittmeier is surely being bluntly forthright about the UWPD's ability to respond to the demand for protection. (I worked with Wittmeier and the UWPD on safety issues when I was at the UW, so I'm both knowledgeable and biased.)

Consider what would happen if you asked the Seattle PD for similar protection against stalkers and harassers. You would not get much help; the police are simply overwhelmed with a raft of issues, many of which are far more serious in the overall picture. It's terrible when it's US in some hateful person's sights, but there is little we can do about it except pull resources from another area that also needs the resources.

I, too, agree with Gomez, except for the part where he is totally full of shit.

If dozens of (white) men received equally credible threats, the UW, SPD, and every other agency would do whatever it takes to put an end to the threat, one way or another. If it meant calling in the National Guard, they would call in the National Guard.

UW's police chief knows all this excitement over this one woman being killed will blow over, so why rock the boat to put on a show to act like we care? In two months he'd just have to re-do the org chart again to put things back the way they were.

The big story here is that violence against women is just not that big a deal. Pot is such a big deal we had to declare war on it, aggressive drivers are such a big deal that the SPD went and bought special he-man Dodge Chargers to face them down, pirating an MP3 is such a big deal the FBI will assign an agent to find you... but beating, raping, or killing the odd acquaintance female here or there?

Not that big a deal.

That's really funny, elenchos. And I'M full of shit?! Your post is like a page from Straw Man Mad Libs.

Gee, thanks. I guess.

Well, somewhere in there is a valid point or five, but DUDE.

See? That "elenchos" is perfect? Why don't you get a few of your lesbian friends together and walk the girls who feel threatened by their boyfriends home? Just don't get fresh, LOL!!!