The University of Kentucky Police Chief Joe Monroe sent an email to UK students regarding the rise in criminal activity on campus this year.
Starting this weekend, UKPD will deploy extra officers on “bike, foot and vehicle to patrol the North Campus area from 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays,” which will be an addition to the current patrolling officers, according to the email.
There will also be additional “large temporary flood lights” installed on Winslow Street. UKPD is currently assessing where permanent lighting, cameras and emergency towers need to be installed around the area.
Limited access to garages and parking lots at The Cornerstone, Sports Center Garage and Good Samaritan Hospital will be enforced, according to the email.
According to University of Kentucky Spokesperson Jay Blanton, the Cornerstone Garage gates will stay down over the weekend, as they do on weekday nights. Permit holders, including those with off-peak and periphery permits (RK, CK, EK), can access the garage from 3:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
Blanton said visitors will need to pay, the garage will no longer be free for guests on weekends.
Students with K-lot parking passes who have to move their cars to surrounding parking structures on home football game days will be able to access the garage with their permit, according to Blanton.
This email follows incidents including two shootings near campus—one of which sent bullets into the Cornerstone Building—four reported sexual assaults in campus dorms and a robbery outside Boyd Hall.
Monroe addressed prior safety measures UKPD has taken this semester, including increased officer presence on North Campus and the university’s partnership with professional campus security group “Allied Universal,” a security and facility services company according to their website.
“We will continue to evaluate these issues and solutions as we look into other safety enhancements for the future,” Monroe said in the email.
UKPD’s commitment to the safety of students at UK is their top priority, according to Monroe, and they will invest in resources to ensure this safety.
“We are working with our partners in the City of Lexington to protect our community, both on and off campus, where many of you live and work,” Monroe said.
In the email, Monroe asked students to report any suspicious activity they see on campus.
“For students who live in residence halls, carefully consider who you invite as guests or visitors. You can report anonymous tips to UKPD via the LiveSafe app, and as always, if there is an emergency, you should dial 911 for help. Please visit police.uky.edu/safety to view more safety resources available to you,” Monroe said.
