University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Campus Security parking tickets and more by Myra Oshlo There it is. under your windshield wiper, fluttering in the brcc e. an- other parking ticket. A parking ticket may be the only contact many students have with campus security. De- pending on the violation, a fine of either S5 or SIO is asscssd, but procrastinators beware, after 14 days fines double. The prospect of parting with a S20 bill is unpleasant indeed, but slow payers are almost certain to ante up eventually. If an individual accumulates three or more unpaid parking tickets, his vehicle is placed on a low list. If the vehicle is impounded, the owner must pay the tow fee as well as his fines, before be can get his car back. Campus security is present at registra- tion lime to collect overdue fines. Further- more. by notifying the registrar s office, campus security can hold a student's grades, transcripts and diploma until his fines are paid. During the 1984-85 school year, cam- pus security issued over 13.000 parking tickets, said Dan Pinkerton, director of security. Mans of these tickets were voided when cited students complied with regula- tions by purchasing a parking permit. Even so, finance office records show that campus security generated about $72.000 in reve- nue from 1984-85 parking fees and fines. A similar figure was projected for this year. Where do all those bucks go? All of the fine money goes back into KSCs institu- tional cash fund, which is deposited with the slate treasurer. Pari of the approximately S30.000 collected annually for parking fees is used to help support the operating expenses of campus security. Another portion of the permit money, currently half, is earmarked for financing parking im- provements. While parking tickets are the most visible aspect of their work, KSCs six full- time and two part-time officers actually spend only a small portion of their lime writing tickets. Pinkerton estimated that over 90 percent of the parking tickets written on campus were issued by work- study student ticket writers, which frees the trained officers to pursue campus security's other responsibilities. “Primarily wc are responsible for the safety of around 2.000 campus residents, their property, and the property of the college. Pinkerton said. Officers have keys to all the doors for campus buildings, enabling them to patrol the corridors, and lock the hundreds of doors they find left unlocked each year. Security checks every building on campus seven nights a week and during the day on Saturday and Sunday. Crowd control is another important aspect of campus security work. Officers are on hand at dances, concerts, and sporting events to help ensure the safety of participants and spectators. Campus security functions much as the police force in any small community. They go out on lost dog calls and family disturbances in College Heights, and re- spond to fire and emergency unit calls. Officers are stale deputy sheriffs. They can issue warnings or citations as the situation warrants. They also have arrest powers. If they have to physically arrest someone, that person is taken to the Buffalo County jail. Officers conduct investigations of cam- pus crimes, maintain a foot patrol around the residence halls and arc involved with catching and prosecuting thieves and van- dals. Alcohol is involved cither directly or indirectly in a large majority of incidents, according to Pinkerton. He cites drunken- ness as a contributing factor in nearly all campus vandalism that occurs outside the residence halls. We don't go into the residence halls looking For things, like drugs for instance, unless it is in the course of an investigation, or if wc responded to a call and happened to observe or smell something, Pinkerton said. Under such circumstances, security No guns . . . Early this fall, a number of KSC students voiced their concern that an unarmed security force might not be able to adequately protect them. This sparked a Student Senate inquiry. Campus security officers carry a night stick, but do not carry firearms. In case of a confrontation with a person who has a gun, security would contact the Kearney Police Department, said Dan Pinkerton, director of security. “A gun does not make the officer, his training and knowledge. His use of verbal skills and common sense do, Pinkerton said. At one lime, campus security officers did carry guns. A shooting incident oc- curred at KSC on Nov. 23, 1969, leaving a 19-ycar-old Claytonia man dead and a campus security officer critically wounded. The incident began after Randall Sagehorn escorted his Saturday night date

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Winter Student’s dream gets off the ground Senior adjusts to life of inventer Students ‘explore’ sex in classroom KSC’s bell tower continued to take shape skyward throughout the year. By the dose of the first semester, the structure’s stark appearance blended well with its natural surroundings. 27

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usually asks for. and gels, permission to search, bill they can gel a warrant if neccssa ry. Security will make drug arrest but they must have a good case. Pinkerton said it would probably lake something more concrete than a lip for them to act. Campus security may be better known for parking tickets, but Pinkerton said he and his officers place their emphasis on protecting and serving the college and its inhabitants. to her college residence at Centennial Towers East, according to the Kcarnc Daily Hub's account of the investigation C report. Five minutes later, at 1:05 a.m.. in Sageliorn threatened a couple with a rifle. e The couple had been sitting in a car parked is on campus. Sagehorn ordered the woman ' out of the car. Instead her daLc got out of U the car and approached Sagehorn. Sage- jf horn fired a shot into the pavement at the a man's feci. The man later told police that :y . Sageliorn had said that he might kill him. i. The shot was heard by patrolling c campus security officers. Tim Austin and is Richard Gibbon. The officers investigated. When they drove into the parking lot, the officers witnessed a man holding a rifle on s 1 another man. As the officers got out of the car. the man with the gun lied. Austin g pursued him on foot, while Gibbon attcmpi- a ed to cut off Sagehorn s escape with the car. I The chase continued over several II fences, ending behind a garage at a nearby e residence. Searching the darkness with his flashlight, Austin spotted Sagehorn — and the riHe. Sagehorn had his rifle aimed at the officer. Austin grabbed the barrel of the gun, attempting to wrestle it from Sage- horn. During the struggle. Austin was struck by two bullets, the report stated. His uniform recorded the effects of other near misses. Beginning to gel sick, Austin pulled out his own weapon and relumed fire, striking the rifleman twice. Sagehorn died from his wounds about two and one half- hours later at Good Samaritan Hospital. Austin also required hospitalization. Some time after this incident the administration came to believe that a uniformed officer could deter vandalism and violence without a gun. In 1974, then Dean of Students Robert Nvc proposed changes in the structure of campus security, among them, the disarm- ing of security officers. Harlan Hen- drickson, then head of security, resigned. Campus security has remained un- armed to this day, even though its officers now complete the same six-week training course, including training in the use of firearms, that is required of all law enforce- ment officers in Nebraska. Vice president of Sludent Services Kurt Hoffman has said there are no plans to reverse the administration decision regarding the use of firearms by campus security. Pinkerton says he respects the decision of the administration; ho and his officers were hired with the understanding that they would not carry guns. k'fn our specific situation, I honestly don't feel we need guns. There are some other places, however, that I wouldn't take the job without them.” Pinkerton said. Pinkerton, a five-year Kearney Police Department officer, said, “I carried a gun for five years and never had to use it. In all that time, 1 never had a single person come up to me and say. I respect you because you have a gun.' 29 i y i