Published: September 27, 2009 11:19 pm      

FSU wins state award for SafeRide program

Campus police also cited for 20th consecutive year

FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University Police has won the Maryland State Governor’s Crime Prevention Award for the 20th consecutive year, and this year, the FSU Student Government Association also won the prestigious award in its first year of nomination for its SafeRide program. The awards are presented to groups or individuals who have “made outstanding contributions to the furtherance of crime prevention programming.”

FSU Student Government Association won the Governor’s Crime Prevention Award in category C, Community Groups, Organizations or Individual Citizens. SafeRide is a student-run program that offers other FSU students a safe, alternative ride home from any Frostburg event Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The program is designed to promote safety and awareness to students and to encourage them not to drink and drive.

Students call the SafeRide office and dispatchers contact the “tag-along” who rides with the van driver. Students can also stop the van along its route and ask for a ride home. SafeRide is in its third year of operation and has given thousands of rides to students.

“SafeRide has contributed to a decrease in crime in our community. DUI numbers, along with other crimes related to alcohol abuse, are significantly down,” said Sgt. T.S. Donahue of FSU Police.

“Alcohol is a challenge area to deal with in our community, and in any college community. The issue must be addressed from multiple angles. SafeRide is a great example of this,” said Jesse Ketterman, FSU dean of students. “The program indirectly reduced vandalism and noise on streets where students travel. As a result, this program has been welcomed by the community and Frostburg City Police,” he said.

In addition to SafeRide, FSU Police is being recognized again for its efforts to make sure every student in Frostburg is safe. The department was recognized under category A, Governor’s Crime Prevention Award for Law Enforcement Agencies. The department strives to educate every student on personal safety, rape prevention, drug and alcohol education, theft prevention, residential and commercial activity, as well as other topics specific to college populations.

“Campus safety and educational programs do work in combating crime,” Donahue said.

Every officer is expected to complete at least eight crime prevention activities a year. Officers may be found in the classroom, heard on the airwaves, read on the Internet or seen in a demonstration.

Each year, the Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute, along with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Maryland Police and Correctional Training commissions, and the Maryland Crime Prevention Association present the Annual Governor’s Crime Prevention Awards.

For more information, call FSU Police at (301) 687-4223.