Police Move To Garden Street, Expect Greater Quad Security

The Harvard University Police Monday began their move from the basement of Grays Hall to their new headquarters at 29 Garden Street--a change that will "heighten Quad security," Saul L. Chafin, chief of University Police, said this week.

"The fact that 29 Garden Street is closer to the Quad and that cruisers will leave from there will increase Quad security tremendously," Chafin said, adding that the move will not hurt Yard security since the police will establish a new sub-station at the rear of Widener.

J. Woodland Hastings, professor of Biology and master at North House, agreed with Chafin this week, saying that the closer proximity and the fact that the congested Square area will lead to greater police mobility.

Hastings, however, said that in addition to the move, the University should set up security arrangements similar to those at the River Houses including a security guard who would be on duty at nights and on weekends.

The enlarged new facility will provide additional privacy for investigations into criminal and "sensitive" cases, Chafin said. He added that in designing the new headquarters interior, he attempted to create a comfortable atmosphere unlike the "traditional pre-incarceration look that is associated with police stations."

Susan Tilley, secretary to the chief of police, said this week that the new "airy" atmosphere and additional space will be important to the staff's working attitude.

"It's the best thing that's happened since John Harvard sat down," a member of the Harvard police said this week.