Princeton students worry over patrols of borough police

Funny what a difference geography can make. While student newspapers on Philadelphia campuses have called for more police involvement in some issues, the Daily Princetonian‘s editorial board wants the Princeton Borough police to remain hands-off.

The student editors say fear of harsher punishment by borough police along Prospect Avenue could prompt students to avoid or delay seeking emergency help.

Reports the paper: “Because students know that the Borough Police will now be responding to their calls, we are concerned that they will be less likely to request assistance, or will wait longer — until the situation has become even more dangerous — before making the call. They will be reluctant to get their friends or themselves in trouble.”

The piece questions whether a response from borough police instead of campus security will result in a trip to the hospital for intoxicated students, rather than the university health center. Harsher and more costly consequences could dissuade students from reporting emergencies, the piece argues.

Feed the Feed: How should dual police jurisdiction be handled at universities?