Redlands Police Partner to Ensure Health and Safety of Campus and Community

On Thursday, Sept. 10, Officials from the City of Redlands and the University of Redlands met on campus to launch their “Responsible Neighbors” campaign to address quality of life issues in the City. The collaboration, launched to coincide with the first week of school, is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the health and safety of students and neighboring residents. Mayor Paul Foster joined Charlotte Burgess, U of R Vice President and Dean of Student Life, Redlands Police Chief, Mark Garcia, and Common Vision Coalition Chair, Mario Saucedo for the event. Collaborative partner Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) will help identify evidence-based interventions to further advance health and safety. Spokespeople made brief comments and immediately led teams to knock on doors of residents and students living near the university as part of the new Responsible Neighbors campaign, which aims to complement the Police Department’s Responsible Redlands initiative. Teams went to hundreds of homes distributing materials containing crime prevention tips, suggestions for positive relations between students and nearby Redlands residents, and where to call to resolve problems. “We have always appreciated our University of Redlands partnership, and we are especially excited to be working together now to ensure a safe campus and Redlands community for everyone,” said Redlands Mayor Paul Foster. “The University of Redlands has a long history of community service and prides itself on giving back to the city and being a positive part of the community,” said Charlotte Burgess, University of Redlands vice president and dean of student life. “This year, we’re really encouraging students and residents to know your neighbors. Many of our students living off campus are living independently for the first time. We want to provide them with resources and engage them in conversations about living in a community. We also want them be safe when they gather socially, and to understand and abide by local laws and ordinances.” Overall, the partnership aims to: • Promote positive relationships in neighborhoods around the University. • Inform residents about crime prevention tips and contacting police or other authorities. • Make the community aware of the liabilities of hosting large parties or allowing underage drinking at their residence. • Increase overall quality of life in the neighborhoods surrounding the University. Police and University officials recognized the need to inform new and returning students about local laws and campus policies and how the Police and University are enforcing them in order to maintain a safe and productive school year for everyone. Partners shared information and practices to best prepare students for a successful academic year. This cooperative effort is a natural outgrowth of the ongoing work by the Redlands Police Department – known as the Responsible Redlands Initiative – aiming to ensure the health, safety, and quality of life of the community. The Responsible Redlands initiative strives to curb the problems related to binge and underage drinking in Redlands in order to achieve a safer, healthier community. The campaign includes DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to identify intoxicated drivers, party patrols to enforce the City’s Social Host Ordinance, decoy and shoulder tap operations to cite businesses and individuals who provide alcohol to underage persons, and educational efforts for local businesses that serve alcohol. Responsible Redlands welcomes partnerships with alcohol retailers and establishments that serve alcohol.