During the past several weeks, there have been a rash of reported criminal incidents in and around the Cornell campus, most of which have resulted in arrest or indictment. Nevertheless, Cornell Police will be stepping up its collaboration with the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department, the Ithaca Police Department and the Cayuga Heights Police Department to heighten the visibility of public-safety patrols around the Cornell campus for the rest of the spring semester.

In addition to enhanced police patrols, Cornell Police will have its public-safety auxiliary units patrolling several areas of campus on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, throughout the semester. These unarmed auxiliary units, whose members will be clearly identified with bright green vests, will be available to serve as extra "eyes and ears" for police patrols and are trained to spot and relay information about suspicious and criminal activity. The public safety auxiliary personnel will travel in pairs and will be available to the public during their patrols to take information that will be radioed to uniformed officers and to provide a walking escort as needed.

"Maintaining the safety of the Cornell community is always our primary concern, and we believe that this increased public-safety visibility will supplement our ongoing efforts," said Cornell Police Chief Curt Ostrander. "Also, we continue to ask members of our community to help us, and themselves, by taking prudent and necessary safety precautions, such as locking their doors and windows at all times and traveling in groups in well-lighted areas at night."

Suspicious activity on the Cornell campus should be reported to Cornell Police by calling 255-1111. Report an emergency by calling 911 or by using any Blue Light or other campus emergency phone.

Suspicious activity off campus can be reported to the Tompkins County Emergency Dispatch Center at 272-2444 or to the Ithaca Police at 272-3245 -- or by calling 911 in an emergency.