As students return to classes for the fall semester, some will do so not knowing the differences between Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus and the Pew Campus – and if you ask Russell Wolff, director of the Pew Campus Security and Regional Centers, there is one.

Wolff said security is a major difference between the two campuses, resting largely on the type and training of the officers present on each campus.

“The difference between our department and Grand Valley Police Department is that they are sworn officers which means they have arrest powers,” Wolff said. “We are just security officers, we are just civilians and we don’t have any arrest powers. We are no different than anyone else except that we provide a service for the university.”

Wolff said that the Pew Campus Security team is comprised of 10 full-time security officers along with three part-time officers who provide 24-hour, 365-day-a-year coverage of the campus.

“We are first contact with the people on campus and we are a deterrent because of the uniform,” Wolff said. “But we are kind of a catch-all. If people don’t want to call the police, they can call us and we will guide them through the process, and if we need to get police involved then we call the Grand Rapids Police Department.”

This differs from security at the Allendale Campus, which is made up of 16 full-time officers who work for the university and help students at a discounted rate. GVPD officers have the authority to arrest suspects and are all licensed law enforcement members.

“Our officers report to all sorts of crimes,” said Capt. Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of the Grand Valley Police Department. “We are responsive on the campus and we work directly with the students, staff and faculty at the school.”

Wolff said that although there are differences between the two departments, he thinks it’s important to provide a reminder to students that both are there for the same reason – to protect and provide a safe environment for GVSU students.

As far as safety measures go, Wolff said he talks to students a lot about pedestrian precautions on the different campuses.

“I go to orientation and beat the same drum every year,” Wolff said. “I talk about how traffic at the Pew Campus is different than at the Allendale Campus. Cars downtown do not yield for pedestrians like they do in Allendale.”

Other unique situations that students may encounter on the Pew Campus include the homeless population that returns to campus in the fall, as well as theft, or larceny, that happens in the parking lots; instances where, Wolff said, individuals will walk throughout the parking lots, looking for unlocked cars.

“Don’t leave anything in your car of value,” Wolff said. “People leave stuff laying in the open and when you get out of class, it’s gone.”

He also said that leaving valuables out around campus, even if a student is just leaving for a moment to use the restroom and get a drink of whater, can still be dangerous and result in theft.

“There are a couple of suggestions, one being to take your stuff with you,” Wolff said. “The other is to find someone else, a study buddy and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to get up, can you watch my stuff for me?’”

In order for Pew Campus Security and GVPD to provide adequate protection for the university, they are both equipped with officers on foot, on bike, in the car and also by Segway.

Both departments encourage students and staff to report crimes, something DeHaan said students should do immediately.

“If students are a victim of a crime, call the office and report the crime right way,” DeHaan said.
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