Wednesday September 12, 2001

UAPD enrolls off-duty cops to assist in security

UAPD worked to increase campus security yesterday, focusing on UA's most susceptible areas and buildings in light of the yesterday's terrorist attack on the United States.

Along with the Tucson Police Department, the University of Arizona Police Department worked to secure all locations across campus, focusing on the Administration building, Main Gate Center, the Islamic Center of Tucson and the Hillel Foundation.

UAPD commander Brian Seastone said the usual nine to 10 officers on duty during the day was increased to 30 after off-duty officers were called in to help.

"Every vehicle that UAPD owns is patrolling the campus," UAPD Sgt. Michael Smith said.

Both a TPD patrol unit and a detective were at the Islamic Center of Tucson, 901 E. First St., to assure the safety of the members who visited the building for prayer and other business throughout the day.

As of yesterday morning, the director of the Islamic Center said he had received two threatening phone calls.

"We are angry at this situation just like the other Americans," said Omar Shahin, the Islamic Center's Imam and director.

Shahin said the center was advising Islamic women to stay home because their traditional dress - a scarf wrapped over their head - might make them a target to other students.

Detective Tim Rupel, a TPD hate crime investigator, said hate crimes aren't limited to physical assault.

"A person who would yell offensive slurs as group members gathered outside the building would be committing a hate crime," he said. "After a crisis like this, people get irrational and will go out looking for anyone who might be of Middle Eastern decent to blame."

No political group or country has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Rupel said that of the 8,000 hate crimes reported in the nation last year, between 20 and 50 occurred in Tucson.

The Hillel Foundation, 1245 E. Second. St., served as a crisis center to students yesterday.

The foundation, UA's on-campus Jewish community center, was also under heightened UAPD surveillance, with two officers present at the center at all times.

"We're not anticipating any problems, and UAPD has been wonderful at assuring our safety," said Michelle Blumberg, director of the Hillel Foundation.

"Students should remember if they're blaming a person, that person wasn't one of the people flying the airplane into one of those buildings," said Joel Simon, the foundation's president.

UAPD continued tightened security efforts through last night.