UTRGV Police serves campus as crime decreases

With students attending classes online and many employees working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decrease in calls reporting crime, according to UTRGV Police Chief Adan Cruz. 

“Our activity has been lessened, but that still doesn’t keep us from being on patrol inside the campus,” Cruz said.

With less students and employees on campus, it would be much easier for “someone to come in off the campus,” he said. Because of this, the police department has increased bike and foot patrols to maintain visibility on the interior of campus. 

“We have more officers right now certified to be on bike patrol than we’ve ever had,” Cruz said. 

Officers will ask people on campus to wear a mask to comply with the City of Edinburg’s requirement of wearing facial coverings in public.

“It’s very important that, as a community, we comply with … the City of Edinburg’s request,” he said, referring to the order by the city requiring residents 3 years and older to wear some form of covering over their nose and mouth when out in public. The order went into effect Monday.

To ensure their safety and to comply with the city’s requirement, police officers were fitted and issued N95-type masks. Officers who are stationed at the drive-thru screening sites on both campuses are wearing full personal-protective equipment, including gowns, facial masks and gloves. When coming to and from work, the officers wear cloth masks, Cruz said. 

Asked if all police officers are wearing masks, Cruz replied, “If we’re in the City of Edinburg, and we’re in a public place, yes.” 

The police department has also provided its officers with hand sanitizer and wipes, community engagement officer Yamile Sarkis said.

“Our PD is really good about providing them for us,” Sarkis said. 

She said the biggest change on campus is the lack of students and faculty.

“Definitely not seeing students or faculty has been a really big change,” Sarkis said. “It’s kind of slowed down the pace for work.” 

While campus is “somewhat alone,” the police department continues to keep patrol on the interior of campus, she said. 

“We want to make sure that everything is still being secured, everything’s closed,” Sarkis said. 

The UTRGV Police Department continues to assist local law enforcement agencies, but has not been assisting any more than it would during normal times, Cruz said. 

“We’re just available to help each other out … if need be, but nothing special,” he said.

While phone calls regarding crime are decreasing, there has not been a change in the severity of crimes committed, Cruz said. 

“We’ll still get a burglary call or a death call,” he said.  

On Monday, a Timely Warning Notification was sent regarding a burglary on the construction site office on the Harlingen campus. According to the warning, the burglary occurred between 4 p.m. last Friday and 6:45 a.m. Monday. Cruz confirmed several miscellaneous construction equipment and tools were taken from the building, and there is no suspect information at this time. 

Once the suspects are caught, the police department will get a warrant and arrest them on a charge of burglary of a building. 

People who have any information related to the burglary may call the police directory at (956) 882-7777, the criminal investigation unit at (956) 665-3273 or email police@utrgv.edu.