Nov 23, 2007 8:10 am US/Eastern
Off-Campus Parties Bring Out Police At Towson
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) ―
Loud parties, drinking on the streets and general bad behavior have people who live in off-campus apartment communities around the Towson University campus fed up.
Mike Hellgren reports Baltimore County police officers Joshua Miller and Sean Dissett have been assigned to crack down on behavior that's not only bad but also escalating to dangerous.
"We've had some fights where some kids, mainly college kids, have had some serious injuries," said Miller.
"Assaults, drugs, DUI's. That's another problem here in Towson," said Dissett.
Eyewitness News went with them on their patrols.
They hit the streets Tuesday through Saturday from 10 p.m.until 6 a.m. in the morning.
"That's basically our primary responsibility, is keeping the other officers on the streets doing other things and letting us take care of that," said Dissett.
"I think it's a good thing, keep the neighborhood safe. You don't want any drunk drivers. That's not cool," said a student.
But some students say there's a fine line to the enforcement that they don't want police to cross. They're fighting for their right to party, albeit responsibly.
"We can't party on campus, so we have to go off campus. And a lot of times, when people are partying responsibly and beneath the noise levels, they still violate everyone's party," said another student.
Police say apartment managers have been cooperative, and the new patrols allow them to build critical relationships with those they serve.
"You can never underestimate any call that you go on," said Dissett.
"There are a few here and there who don't want to cooperate, but for the most part, we've been receiving cooperation from the students," said Miller.
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