After the incident, the safety director reminds students to be alert

By Anna Corbett, Editor

The Newman community can learn a valuable lesson from an incident that involved a conspicuous police presence on campus, said Security Director Steve Patton.

If you see something, say something.

Patton said the incident occurred just before 10 a.m. Tuesday. He was on patrol on campus when he received a call that personal property had been stolen from Sacred Heart Hall.

Shortly afterward, Patton received a call from a student who reported seeing a suspicious person near Dugan Library. Patton found the person described by the student and observed him until Wichita police officers arrived on campus and arrested him, Patton said.

The person whose belongings were taken got them back. No one was injured, Patton said, and at no time was there a threat to the student body.

Patton, who worked in law enforcement for 27 years with the Wichita Police Department before coming to Newman, said the suspect was not known on the Newman campus.

Patton said such incidents are not common on campus, but he believes there are lessons to be learned. He is grateful to the students who recognized the person was out of place and called. Without their help and the help of staff, the situation could have turned out very differently, he said.

“If you see something that doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts,” Patton said.

He said that although cameras have been installed in certain areas of the campus to detect cars passing through, students should still be vigilant.

Patton stressed the importance of students observing their surroundings to ensure they are not

become a target for those waiting for an opportunity. He said students should make sure all car doors are locked and valuables are hidden. They should not walk around campus with a cell phone or headphones.

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