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`In order for groups, organizations, officials, and basically anyone to earn respect in this day and age, they need to be seen in a light of helping others.
Especially when their motto is to “serve and protect.”
This is why I just do not understand how a police car sitting at the intersection of George and Frederick Street is helping anyone on this campus.
The worst part about this is that the cruiser is usually on for a good portion of the day with Millersville University Police Department standing right outside of it, with their thumbs snuggly placed on their belts.
One of the hardest things for students and faculty to do on this campus is cross the street. With the amount of construction, traffic and limited space on the roads, one might believe that this is a great opportunity for the MUPD.
A street light that has been up for nearly a month, but does not work, should warrant an officer to be attentive to the area. The MUPD are very consistent with having someone standing there, but why not they help direct the flow of traffic?
What else is there to do during the hectic hours then help with pedestrian traffic?
Their is no amount of parking tickets that should take away from the safety of students on campus.
I do not want to point out only negative things, however, that is mostly what I find with the University Police.
I did have the opportunity to see one of the officers jump starting someone’s car near Stayer Hall last week, which was very nice. Sadly, 15 minutes later, I witnessed the very thing I have been talking about again.
Let me blow your mind with some facts about fuel consumption and police cruisers.
The Consumer Energy Center states, “For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile.”
Basically, if a cruiser is sitting at the intersection for one hour, it has used 30 miles of fuel. Multiply this by six hours, which is the length of time I surveyed the cruiser one day last week, this equates to 180 miles of fuel.
Knowing these numbers lets say the cruiser averages, oh, 26 miles per gallon city (I will be nice and give the MUPD the benefit of the doubt). In six hours, the car would have used 6.4 gallons of fuel. With gas presently at $2.39 a gallon at Turkey Hill, it is costing Millersville students $15.30 to idle the cruiser.
Now I know why the MUPD are so good at giving out parking tickets, they need to pay to keep their cars on for no reason whatsoever.