KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Special education sophomore Nick Martinez converses with UAPD Chief Tony Daykin about the key chain whistles police distributed on the Mall yesterday afternoon. The key chains are equipped with flashlights as well as whistles people can blow if they are in trouble.

UAPD officials hand out key-chain whistles to ensure students safety

University police say that help will be on the way at the toot of a whistle.

The University of Arizona Police Department kicked off the Whistle Stop for Safety program yesterday, handing out key chains equipped with a small red flashlight and a high-pitched whistle that students can use if they feel threatened or see any other criminal activity.

UAPD Cmdr. Brian Seastone said hearing the whistle is a way for students to help each other out.

"If someone needs help, they can alert others by blowing the whistle," Seastone said.

Seastone said he hopes the program will educate students to watch out for each other - especially if the high pitch of the whistle is heard.

Although only a single, stray toot of the whistle could be heard while three UAPD officials handed out the whistles yesterday, one student felt it may just become another sound.

"We hear car alarms going off all the time, and people just ignore them," said Shannon Sprague, computer sciences junior.

Tricia Williams, administrative vice president of Associated Students of University of Arizona, felt that most students would take the whistle sound seriously.

"I don't think students will take it as a joke but see it as an important issue," Williams said.

Seastone said although the department started off with 9,000 key chains, 1,000 of them were already given out to students during a health fair on the Mall last week.

He said because of the popularity of the key chains, an additional 4,000 have already been ordered.

UAPD Chief Tony Daykin said the department is working in conjunction with ASUA and the Parents Association to bring the key chains to the campus community.

Contact information for both UAPD and ASUA's SafeRide program was printed on one side to remind students who to call if they need help.

"That way, if someone is walking home or to their dorm and they're scared, they can just look down at the key chain and see our number to get a ride," Williams said.

Students had mixed reactions to the Whistle Stop for Safety program. One student felt the device might make students feel overconfident.

"It seems like a good idea, but you'd hope it doesn't harbor a false sense of security," said Keith Fridel, clinical psychology graduate student. "Perhaps it's a good reminder to keep aware of your surroundings."

One student felt it wasn't necessary.

"If you're in trouble, you could just scream, which would do a lot more," said Jane Williams, a non-degree seeking graduate student. "They should put mace on it."

The Whistle Stop for Safety program is a part of Campaign for Safety, a program UAPD started last September to become more proactive with the campus community.

Seastone said that along with the Whistle Stop for Safety program, UAPD is raching out through a police liaison program started in the fall, which assigns officers to residence halls to make regular contacts with the students.

The department also plans to expand the liaison program to fraternities and sororities.

Already, UAPD has given more than 100 presentations to residence halls, fraternities and sororities across campus and plans to continue after spring break.

Anyone wishing to get a key chain can visit UAPD headquarters at 1852 E. First St.

Seastone said officers will be also handing key chains out on the Mall during future events.