Chris Coduto/Arizona Daily Wildcat Retail and consumer sciences sophomore Dana Deats (right), public health sophomore Seanna Ingrim and education junior Michelle Kiernan play with Michael, the University of Arizona Police Department's bomb detection dog. Officer Kyle Morrison, Michael's handler, is the new liaison for the Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Community safety focus of partnership

About 25 Delta Delta Delta members met their designated police officer last night after becoming the first sorority to partner with the University of Arizona Police Department Liaison Program.

The girls sat in a semicircle around Kyle Morrison, a UAPD officer, and his black Labrador retriever Michael as Morrison introduced the liaison program and answered questions about speeding tickets, UA crime and sexual assault.

The UAPD Liaison Program is designed to increase communication between its members and UAPD in order to prevent problems in the community. It is modeled after a program created for the residence halls five years ago, said Officer Frank Romero, crime prevention specialist and liaison program coordinator.

Through the program, each participating chapter is assigned a police officer with whom it can establish a relationship so its members can feel comfortable asking questions, getting suggestions or asking for help in case of a problem.

Romero said the most important aspect of the program is the communication.

"We're trying to take the 'us versus them' mentality away and develop a partnership with the different people in the community," he said.

Romero said before events begin, the chapter and officer can meet to brainstorm a list of potential problems that can be prevented.

Brittany Youngman, vice president of public relations at Tri-Delta, said this was an opportunity for them to know how the police officers work.

"I think it will be nice for our women to be able to go to the officers with any questions and concerns and feel comfortable doing it," she said.

Ashley Forsline, president of the sorority, said UAPD will use the sorority as a resource to know what students' concerns and fears are.

"I think it will be helpful to open the line of communication between UAPD and Tri-Delta," she said.

Robert Medler, president of the Interfraternity Council, introduced the UAPD liaison program at the end of last semester. All fraternities became part of the program as of Jan. 1, when the IFC made it mandatory for all chapters to join for at least one semester, Medler said.

"It's kind of the best way to approach a new program of that type, in my opinion," he said.

Jami Savage, president of the Panhellenic Council, stated in an e-mail that the council decided to wait until spring semester to start the program in the sororities. However, the Panhellenic Council has not made it mandatory for the sororities to take part.

"There was a lot of interest at the end of the semester for the program, therefore we feel confident that it will take off without making it mandatory," she said.

Some members have said they have had good results with the program. Jake Henderson, former president of Pi Kappa Phi, said the chapter members check in with their officer every other week.