Uniformed Students Aid Campus Police In Security Patrol

The combined efforts of the student security patrol and the University police have been a "tremendously effective" deterrent to crime on campus, Stephen S.J. Hall, vice president for administration, said yesterday.

Hall said the Student Security Patrol is one aspect of the "new orientation" towards security centralization.

He said the administration is considering replacing retiring Police Chief Robert Tonis with someone who could "concentrate on all elements of the security equation." He said that in the future, the department will concentrate on all aspects of security.

Sanford Meyer, supervisor of the Student Security Patrol, said yesterday that the year-and-a-half-old monitoring system was started to inspect for fire, flooding and safety hazards in administrative buildings after business hours.

Meyer said the squad has expanded from 14 to 72 people and that he anticipates more.

The security patrol is a student-run body under the control of Harvard police Lt. George Hill. Meyer said that all matters of personal safety are referred to the police, although the presence of any uniformed person will hinder would-be offenders.

Hall said that one reason for success of the patrol is the excellent relationship between the police and the monitors.

Hall said other colleges had considered a student patrol system, but added, "most rejected it due to the difficulty in supervision."