G-UNIT

Of all my neurotic fears (earwigs, botulism, and zombies to name a few), being held-up at knife/gunpoint while walking home from East Campus at night is looking to be one of the more legitimate ones. Carrying a decoy wallet around is getting pretty annoying, so I've compiled a list of possible solutions to Georgetown's security dilemma.

Vigilantism
Georgetown University Neighborhood Intervention Task-force would be an elite security team run by students who are brave enough to volunteer. GUNIT would patrol the campus at night in groups of two, armed with bear mace and full body armor. Sniper units would be stationed on the rooftops of Village A, LXR, Healy Hall, Henle Village, and St. Mary's Hall to provide cover for ground units with rubber bullets. GUNIT would also provide walk-alongs and armored transport for people who can't wait for 45 minutes on hold with Safe Rides. I'm currently researching D.C.'s statutes regarding citizen arrest procedures but GUNIT would probably just end up temporarily detaining suspects until DPS or Metro can arrive on scene. I'm also entertaining the idea of a K-9 unit.

Security Cameras
It shouldn't be too hard to have a few security cameras in strategic locations around campus, especially considering certain areas seem especially prone to crime *cough* Lauinger steps *cough*. This might also help DPS reconstruct crimes while they canvas the area with negative results.

Bear Traps
Everywhere.

DPS Upgrade
DPS officers might not be afraid to patrol places like Lauinger steps or Prospect street if they had some form of self-defense on them like Mace or a police baton. The incident in the Fall of last year where several DPS officers were assaulted was disgraceful. If DPS officers are expected to keep us safe, they need to be able to do something to criminals besides sit on them until Metro arrives. I'm not proposing giving them guns but non-lethal weapons seem to be the only solution if DPS officers are expected to defend students against armed robbers. DPS has the legal right to arrest someone through the power vested in them through Metro, so I think they should have some force to back up that threat. I'm not going to go on for too long complaining about DPS since there's a new head of Public Safety; I'll give him some time to get DPS' act together before starting a petition for upgraded DPS officers.

Let me know what you guys think. Any other suggestions are welcome.