UPD officers serve campus community in unique ways

Most members of the police department at Purdue University Fort Wayne decided at a very young age to pursue a career in law enforcement.

What they didn’t decide until much later was to work on a campus, a unique role for those wearing the uniform, requiring a conscious choice. The approach to their duties is different from traditional community officers.

“Since the mid-1960s, the police department’s mission has been to protect and serve the campus community by providing a safe environment through enforcement, service, and education,” said Interim Chief Rick Wiegmann during PFW’s State of the University address Sept. 15. “Officers strive to create a secure environment through respectful, fair, and impartial policing—fostering trust and an approachable presence among students, faculty, and staff.”

How they build that takes many forms. It can include Wiegmann walking around campus with Recon, the campus therapy dog, offering help unlocking cars, providing jump starts, or giving escorts to those leaving facilities late at night. There’s also the permanent drug disposal location outside the police department’s front door, regular bike patrols, and resources for students to test for possible drugs in their drinks.

“Our goal for the program is to ensure that all individuals get the help they need to be successful at Purdue Fort Wayne,” Wiegmann said. “Our officers are dedicated to the university and stand ready to assist everyone with a variety of needs and situations. We are all here for the campus and for our community.”

Serving the community also happens when David Herbst, an officer with the department, conducts free CrossFit training classes at Lutheran Health Fieldhouse on the afternoons he’s working. Officers have one hour for physical training during their shifts, and Herbst decided in 2015 to propose sharing his workout with students and anyone else who wanted to take part. If he had to do it anyway, why not have some fun and make new friends?

This allowed Herbst to design the exercise programs around the best athlete in the class and then taper the intensity to everyone else. After all, if he’s going to suffer at age 47, why shouldn’t he share the joy with those who are less than half his age? Sometimes there are more than 20 participants, and sometimes there are just two “regulars” who show up every time.

“I work out with the students because they see me,” Herbst said. “I think that’s important to build a rapport with them so they can feel comfortable coming to me if they have a situation they are concerned about. We’re just people who want to help.”

Herbst stressed how officers are the first to respond when students are in trouble and need help. They have the training to provide guidance and to hear students.

“After all, a lot of us are dads and moms, too,” Herbst said. “Other people’s kids are important to us. We take the extra time.”

Odessa Goodwin, one of PFW’s newest officers, studied criminology and criminal justice in college. She considered joining other forces, but wanted to be on a college campus. She’s actually the same age as some students she is sworn to protect.

“I’ve always been a caring person, always putting other people first,” Goodwin said. “I chose this because I like working with students. I was a student, and I know how that is, how tough it is being away from home, and everything else that goes on as you are trying to grow. That’s not easy.

“I view this job as not only being an officer, but also being a friend—being something more. We’re there to help guide them through their life journey as they grow and become who they want to be.”

Learn more at pfw.edu/university-police.