Building Relationships
PICTURED ABOVE:
Western Kentucky University Police Department Chief Mitch Walker, center, said his department excells in proactive policing. Also pictured with Walker are Capt. Ryan Petty, Sg.t Brandon Humphries, Sgt. Bryan Jones, PIO Melissa Bailey, officers Charles Casey, Jonathan Harris and Kyle Skinner. (Photo by Michael Moore)
Located in the rolling hills of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is teaming with students, staff and faculty members whose background are as diverse as the degree programs the school offers.
The campus population fluctuates throughout the years, soaring between 15,000 and 18,000, depending on that year’s enrollment, between August and May and dwindling over the summer months when most of the students have gone home.
Tasked with keeping the peace is the Western Kentucky University Police Department. Chief Mitch Walker said policing on a college campus is much different than in a municipality.
“The call volume is the biggest difference,” he said. “It is much higher for the Bowling Green Police Department.”
Recruiting/Retention
Like many other agencies, WKUPD has its challenges regarding hiring and keeping officers. And it all boils down to one word, Walker said.
“Pay,” Walker straight-forwardly said. “It’s our biggest challenge. It’s difficult to compete with the Bowling Green Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police.”
Western Kentucky University Police Department Chief Mitch Walker. (Photo by Michael Moore)
With the limited ability to increase an officer’s income, Walker has gotten creative with other perks designed to attract and keep officers.
“What I have done is make an environment where there is some flexibility; we have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to the schedules,” Walker said. “I allow it so long as the shifts are covered.”
Another area Walker focuses on is ensuring his officers have the best available equipment.
“Police officers love their equipment, and I try to make sure we have the best stuff our budget will allow,” he said.
Examples of updates and equipment purchased over the past several years include body worn cameras, tablets in cruisers, agency patch redesign and updated uniforms.
Some officers wear concealed vests while others utilize outer vests. It is up to the individual officer’s preference. Walker added that the officers had input in the updates creating a sense of pride and ownership in the department.
An officer advisory team meets monthly to discuss department-related topics. Walker said that has proven beneficial for morale and comradery.
“In the past five years, we’ve had about 160 changes in the organization,” he said. “Most of those changes came from the officers.”
Public Information Officer Melissa Bailey said another benefit is an attractive time-off package WKUPD offers.
“When the students are gone during the summer, we get 49 hours to take off,” she said. “That doesn’t count your normal vacation time or sick time. During Christmas break, we spend close to 80 hours of winter break time with our families.”
Western Kentucky University Police Department PIO Melissa Bailey. (Photo by Michael Moore)
Community Policing
When the officers are happy, that attitude translates to patrol when they’re out and about on campus interacting with WKU students, faculty and staff.
Because the call volume isn’t as heavy, which allows officers with WKUPD to be proactive in their approach to policing, his philosophy regarding policing on campus is geared toward relationship building.
“We take the opportunity to meet individuals in a pleasant, non-threatening manner,” Walker said. “We do things proactively to keep the campus safe.”
Bailey added that being heavily involved in the students’ lives and activities does the job as the department establishes rapport with students, faculty and staff.
“That helps us build those relationships, and when they need us, they’re not fearful of calling us,” Bailey said. “We’re like their mom or dad because they’re away from home.”
Officers with WKUPD are involved in nearly every aspect of students’ lives, including move-in day. That means picking up boxes and furniture and hauling those items to a dorm room or assisting students with directions on campus and everything in between.
Walker also said WKUPD officers could use discretionary judgment when responding to calls.
“It’s funny in a way,” he said. “(Students) are getting away from their parents, and they’re having a big time, and the call volume does tick up a little bit when they first get here. But the officers being able to use discretionary judgment when it comes to them makes a big difference.”
Drug abuse isn’t a significant issue, with marijuana possession and alcohol intoxication being the most common issues the officers see. Officers often take the opportunity to educate and guide students on acceptable behavior when issues arise.
“We could probably arrest more than we do, but I feel that’s the benefit of us not being tied up with calls,” Walker explained. “Here, the officer can use discretion on the situation.”
(Photo by Michael Moore)
Educational Outreach
WKUPD’s connection with students, faculty, and staff is one of many ways they keep the number of infractions low on campus, Walker and Bailey said.
That’s because of numerous safety presentations and programs the department offers to students, including a self-defense course officers teach on campus and in the outlying community. Those presentations focus on general safety tips such as keeping vehicles and dorm rooms locked and valuables out of sight.
“We talk about alcohol safety,” Bailey explained. “Many times, where there is a crime, alcohol is often involved with sexual or violent assaults. We talk about the importance of having a designated driver or calling a ride service. We don’t want them getting in a vehicle and driving when intoxicated.”
The department also offers on-campus safety escorts.
“If they are alone and have to walk somewhere at night or during the day, if they don’t feel comfortable, they can call us for a safety escort,” Bailey said. “We average about two or three a night. Especially students who are at the top of the hill and live at the bottom (in a dorm) and want an escort back down to their residence hall.”
Conference USA Sports
Western Kentucky University has a robust presence in college athletics. When the action comes to the Hill at either L.T. Smith Stadium or the E.A. Diddle Arena, WKUPD is ready to do its thing.
“During football season, we will work five or six home games,” Walker said. “We’ll work about 32 home men’s and women’s basketball games during their season. Sometimes we do baseball and softball games. We're busy with it from fall until the end of March.”
When the football team is at home, Walker said it’s all-hands on deck as every officer is required to work the event unless there is some reason they cannot, such as a family issue or they’re sick or injured.
Basketball games usually have seven to 10 officers working them.
“It’s a great time,” Walker said. “If we’re playing a major university, then traffic is the biggest challenge as far as directing traffic or parking.”
Law Enforcement Partnerships
Because of the sheer volume of people who show up on game day to cheer on the Hilltoppers, WKUPD relies on its law enforcement partners to help with the myriad of duties associated with large events.
“We’re all here to support one another,” Walker said. “We must have them work the special events during football games. The Kentucky State Police will help escort the opposing football team into campus. The Bowling Green Police Department and (Warren County) Sheriff’s Office will help us with crowds.”
Those partnerships go beyond events. In a time where active shootings on college and public-school campuses are increasing, WKUPD and the law enforcement agencies in Warren County must be on the same page should the unthinkable occur.
“We host active-shooter training on campus, and the Bowling Green PD, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, KSP and other local emergency service agencies have worked with us on the training,” Walker said. “We conduct it over the summer in one of our buildings.”
In addition to the yearly, multi-agency training, WKUPD conducts Run, Hide, Fight training with the school’s faculty and staff during the year.
WKUPD also works with other first responders frequently when it comes to on-campus emergencies. For example, in late September 2022, WKUPD received assistance from the Bowling Green Fire Department regarding potential explosive devices on campus.
Commitment to Service
Walker stressed that relationship building is at the heart of WKUPD’s mission, and it was never more emphasized than when his officers go the extra mile to help.
“I had a student whose class was dropped by accident, and he came to the police department because he didn’t know what to do,” Bailey recalled. “He was a senior who needed this class. So, he came here looking for help. And because I’ve made connections with other faculty and staff members on campus, I knew exactly where he needed to go, and I took him to the Dean of Students Office. By that afternoon, he was back in his classes.”
“That is what makes me come to work every day,” Walker added. “A lot of it is just hiring the right people.”
A note from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet:
The recently enacted bipartisan state budget signed by Gov. Andy Beshear allows the commonwealth to take additional steps forward to make Kentucky a leader in public safety by enhancing law enforcement training, creating safer communities and improving the safety of both law enforcement officers and Kentuckians. In July, the Governor announced additional steps to enhance public and officer safety including funding for firearms training, Western Kentucky training facility, increased training stipend.
In June, Gov. Beshear announced the Military to Law Enforcement Program (M-2-LE). M-2-LE allows local law enforcement agencies in Kentucky to hire active service members within all branches of the U.S. Military during their last 180 days of service. Upon being contracted by a law enforcement agency, the military member will continue to receive their pay and benefits from the U.S. Military while they undergo law enforcement training at the Department of Criminal Justice Training.
