Dive Brief:

• Student patrol officers at the University of Michigan-Flint are having a major impact on campus crime, according to the school’s Public Safety Department.
• Crime statistics for the campus are the lowest they’ve been in 35 years, with criminal incidents dropping to 140 in 2013 from 202 in 2012, and larceny falling to 56 in 2013 from 101 in 2012.
• Student patrols were restructured a year and a half ago to be more visible on campus as part of a comprehensive public safety strategy that stressed more visibility, communication, and responsibility for students, MLive.com reported.

Dive Insight:

Would student patrols ever catch on on a widespread basis? The drop in crime on campus comes at the same time that the city of Flint saw a nearly 25% reduction in violent crime through the first three months of 2014 compared to one year earlier. The student patrol usually has 15 to 20 UM-Flint students on staff. They go through a student patrol officer academy where they are trained in helping out during a fire drill, patrolling techniques, and being a good witness, among other things. Among the changes a year and a half ago was with their uniforms, going to maize and blue to make them stand out. The students patrol on foot and in golf carts.