Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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Were UWWERYITY POLICE LEARN ii: So Mucy Cops bur To Pauey Weong-baces Ag THLE) ARE OFLIUERS 007 10 HELP PEOPLE SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS CAMPUS police are reminded of their duty upon entering the roll call training room for daily sessions. The sign was made for director Paul Bunch in the late 70s when he was assistant director of the department. MEASURE SAFETY By MARCIA ROBERTSON Photos By nt (O) 15} |= [St 18 Campus Police RAL = Editor's Note: Marcia Robertson, Talisman reporter, spent eight hours in a police cruiser with Lt. Joe Gentry. The following story is her journal of that night’s events. THE THEME song plays softly in the back- ground as the garage door flies open and the police cruiser, with lights and siren flashing, prepares to go on yet another far-from-routine chase. The above scenario is, of course, from a popular police televison show. Although a day in the life of a campus policeman doesn’t have all the glamour of the show, it is anything but routine. 3:30p.m. Roll Call. Lt. Joseph Gentry comes into the officer’s shift- changing meeting. At 48, he is still a handsome, robust man whose appearance demands respect. One could easily picture him as an army drill sergeant and in fact he did serve in the armed forces. During the briefing, a policeman reports that he has seen a girl on campus who was “a dead ringer” for person a reported missing. “Oh,” Gentry said, “ just like the one in the report. Maybe we should talk to I've seen her. That girl looks her just to make sure.” 4p.m. Gentry and five other officers leave the meeting to go on duty. As Gentry is going into his office, he is approached by three students from “Western Weekly” who want to stage a policeman pulling overa person suspected of DUI. Gentry places a call to Continued on page 19

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The more things change the together as coed housing made more they stay the same. For its debut. every trend making its way into Whether trendy or tra Western’s student life, there ditional, student life was some “were just as many traditions thing not soon forgotten. Homecoming, Greek Week and graduation were the main- stays. Without them, Western just would not be complete. No one could ignore the con- temporary interests that pre- vailed. In order to maintain the body beautiful, some went out of their way to exert them- selves, while for others, the treacherous walk up the hill was enough. But there was oftentimes a mixture of the two. The play “Jesus Christ Superstar” was resurrected, complete with an MIV motif. The sexes were no UPON THE roofofhis apartment, James Cessler, a longer battling, but living Louisville sophomore, gets away from it all. He was - reading “The How]” for entertainment. CLASS REGISTRATION is a tiresome experi- ence for Louisville freshman David Dukes. The process took place in Wetherby Administration Building. NUE

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another officer and lets him take care of the mock arrest. 4:55p.m. A young man is brought in after being found in Diddle Arena without proper authorization. As he is walking through the shift officer’s office, he greets Gentry with a “Hi, chief!” When Gentry returns the greeting, the young man smiles and says, “Gee, I hope I haven’t done anything wrong. I would sure hate to get into trouble with you guys.” Gentry said, “Everyone is scared of the police. But if you have not done anything wrong, what do you have to be afraid of? We don’t go around harassing people.” 59:40 p.m. Gentry is in the dispatch room. The officer who is supposed to be working there had to leave to get a typewriter. The telephone rings. “Campus police,” Gentry answers. In a matter of seconds, Gentry has contacted a unit over the police radio and has the two officers, who had answered the call, on their way to handle the problem. Shortly afterwards, a student calls about his car. He doesn’t remember if he had parked his car and for- gotten where it was, or if it had been towed away. After taking down the student’s license plate number and the university registration decal number, Gentry checks the tow-away sheet and tells the student that his car was not supposed to be towed away. But he assures the student that he would be looking out for his car. AS PART, of his duties, Lt. Joseph Gen- try patrols on campus in a police cruiser. Gentry had the shift from 4 p.m. to 12 p.m. 19 Campus Police