NEWS
Officials urge residents to use SAFE, lock homes
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Tom Schalmo:
- County beefs up medic reserve (April 4, 2008)
Related Stories:
- UW junior found dead in Doty Street home; killer still at large (April 3, 2008)
- University lends help to those affected by homicide (April 3, 2008)
- Shaken campus remains on alert (April 4, 2008)
- Police find weapon in 1st '08 homicide in Madison (January 31, 2008)
- Police focus on transients for homicide clues (April 4, 2008)
by Tom Schalmo
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Police officials advised students to follow normal safety measures Wednesday after the murder of a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin student.
Brittany Zimmermann, a junior from Marshfield, Wis., was found dead in her home at 517 W. Doty St. around 1 p.m. Wednesday.
At a news conference Wednesday evening, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the heads of the UW and Madison police departments assured residents they still live in a safe environment.
“We are a very strong community; we are a safe community,” Cieslewicz said. “Violent crime is down in our city, and this neighborhood remains safe.”
Still, in immediate steps toward extra surveillance, UWPD increased patrols in the Doty Street area at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and the university increased its SAFEwalk staff for Wednesday evening.
UWPD Chief Susan Riseling said extra patrols would continue “as long as necessary.”
As part of her standard message regarding campus safety, Riseling reminded students to avoid talking on cell phones and listening to iPods as they walk down the streets.
Riseling recommended students utilize the SAFEwalk program and avoid walking alone.
But the chief also said students should try to maintain their daily routines and simply use caution.
“We say this over and over again, but it bears repeating: It’s best not to walk alone at night,” Riseling said.
Mary Anne Thurber, a Madison police officer in the crime prevention office, said students should use Zimmermann’s tragic death as a motivator to try to be as safe as possible.
“We want people to take the opportunity to learn from this heartbreaking event to trim up the edges of their personal existence,” Thurber said.
Thurber said students need to be aware of all their surroundings.
“Lights, locks and landscape are three fundamentals,” she said.
In particular, Thurber said students need to deadbolt their doors when they are both inside and outside their homes. And with the warm weather hitting the area, MPD says students should still not open their windows past four inches to prevent intruders from entering through them.
Additionally, officials recommend students not include their names on cell phone voicemail greetings and leave only their last names on mailboxes.
For one-on-one counseling, both Thurber and UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam recommend University Health Services’ counseling services. Thurber said students should also feel free to talk to police officers they see patrolling their neighborhoods.
Despite all the precautions officials recommend, Thurber said students should still go about their everyday business.
“People are going to have extra awareness,” Thurber said. “But people cannot live in a hyper-vigilant zone.”
City Council President Mike Verveer, whose district includes where the homicide occurred, is taking such an approach.
“I’m not afraid, but I certainly am going to be watching my back and my surroundings more than I normally do,” he said.
Madison Police Chief Noble Wray encouraged anyone who noticed any even remotely suspicious behavior in the Doty Street area in the last couple days should step forward with the information.
Thurber said even the “smallest thing can make the biggest difference.”
Anyone with any information that could help officials is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 608-266-6014.
Verveer and officers will hold a community meeting Saturday afternoon to discuss safety in the neighborhood. Details on the meeting will be set Thursday.
Anonymous (April 4, 2008 @ 12:00am):
It is a shame this happened- but I do not think SAFEwalk or SAFEride would have helped. Those programs are unreliable,have long wait periods, and decline people who call. Not too safe...
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
