2008 Woodie Awards
SAPD conducts safety survey after assault
San Antonio police officers find campus to be a safe environment but suggest better lighting.
By William Underhill
Issue date: 6/30/08 Section: News
Originally published: 7/11/08 at 5:05 PM CSTLast update: 9/4/08 at 2:03 PM CST
In response to the assault on maintenance employee Anastacio Ramos May 5, the San Antonio Police Department agreed to conduct a safety survey of this campus.
Officers Felipe Santos, Ron Strothman and Rick Olivares conducted the survey and were accompanied by Officer Eric Perez of the district's department of public safety.
After looking over the maintenance building where the assault occurred, the officers deemed the attack a crime of opportunity.
"This right here is well lit. This is about as secure as you can get it without having an escort," Olivares said after reviewing the scene. "That team was looking for somebody. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're at, how well lit it was, they were just looking for a victim."
Overall, the officers found the campus to be a safe environment; however, they did have some concerns.
"The thickness of these bushes prevents anyone from seeing through them, and they are too high," Santos said, looking at the bushes east of Moody Learning Center. He made the same remark about landscaping surrounding the other buildings, too.
At Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building, Santos used the bushes in Lot 7 to demonstrate how easily they could be used to hide.
Walking around the visual arts center, the officers noticed Lot 10 was completely dark.
"A light is the cheapest, most effective way to keep yourself safe," Strothman said. "You know, it's like cockroaches; you turn the light on and they take off. Well those two-legged cockroaches, you turn the lights on and they take off."
Perez explained that this light had already been reported to maintenance. To help maintenance locate it, DPS wraps caution tape around the pole to identify it.
In the mall between Candler Physical Education Center and Nail Technical Center, three lights were out. The officers recommended replacing them immediately and trimming the trees along the walkways to allow more lighting.
The last recommendation they made was with regard to parking lots.
"Mark the lots better because these are public streets. District officers probably know where they are at, but we may not," Santos said of San Antonio police officers.
Officers Felipe Santos, Ron Strothman and Rick Olivares conducted the survey and were accompanied by Officer Eric Perez of the district's department of public safety.
After looking over the maintenance building where the assault occurred, the officers deemed the attack a crime of opportunity.
"This right here is well lit. This is about as secure as you can get it without having an escort," Olivares said after reviewing the scene. "That team was looking for somebody. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're at, how well lit it was, they were just looking for a victim."
Overall, the officers found the campus to be a safe environment; however, they did have some concerns.
"The thickness of these bushes prevents anyone from seeing through them, and they are too high," Santos said, looking at the bushes east of Moody Learning Center. He made the same remark about landscaping surrounding the other buildings, too.
At Longwith Radio, Television and Film Building, Santos used the bushes in Lot 7 to demonstrate how easily they could be used to hide.
Walking around the visual arts center, the officers noticed Lot 10 was completely dark.
"A light is the cheapest, most effective way to keep yourself safe," Strothman said. "You know, it's like cockroaches; you turn the light on and they take off. Well those two-legged cockroaches, you turn the lights on and they take off."
Perez explained that this light had already been reported to maintenance. To help maintenance locate it, DPS wraps caution tape around the pole to identify it.
In the mall between Candler Physical Education Center and Nail Technical Center, three lights were out. The officers recommended replacing them immediately and trimming the trees along the walkways to allow more lighting.
The last recommendation they made was with regard to parking lots.
"Mark the lots better because these are public streets. District officers probably know where they are at, but we may not," Santos said of San Antonio police officers.
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