Double Shifts for Harvard Police

The occupation of Mass. Hall by the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) is straining the resources of the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley said yesterday.

"People need to realize that there are resources being siphoned off of other areas of the University to deal with this situation," he said.

Officers are working double shifts to provide the necessary manpower for the PSLM occupation and simultaneously patrol their normal beats.

"We still need to be dealing with the policing needs of the rest of campus while we have officers here," Riley said.

Riley said he is concerned about the stress the protest is placing on officers, many of whom are sleeping only four hours a night. And fatigue will only become a more explosive issue as the protest wears on.

University administrators are currently working with the police union to ensure proper coverage for the campus--methods that might include mandatory overtime for officers in the coming days.

PSLM's occupation is providing one of the first tests of HUPD's "community-oriented policing," a concept that Riley has stressed since his arrival at HUPD in 1995. Riley has attempted to foster an environment in which officers get to know students personally, creating a more secure and comfortable atmosphere.

As part of the initiative, Riley has encouraged officers to eat meals in dining halls and to communicate with individual students to become familiar with their concerns--and has ensured that this approach has carried over into student protests.

"[The students] know we're not there to bully or harass them in such a way as to suppress the voicing of their opinions and issues," Riley told the Crimson last year.

The approach seems to have paid off as the occupation continues into its seventh day today. In fact, the relationship between students and police is almost a polar opposite of Harvard's 1969 riots--when police beat students and were pummeled with bricks and bottles.

Now, despite their fatigue, officers banter with protesters and supporters and as the protest goes on, police are befriending many participants they see every day inside and outside the building.

"Rather than making things tense inside, we're getting to know these guys' family and friends," HUPD Sergeant Dan Brown said.

Officers standing outside Mass. Hall pass their long shifts chatting with passers-by and joking with protesters.

Those involved agree that the situation inside the building has remained mostly calm--thanks in large part to the fact that police and students have maintained good relations in the past.

"For the most part [police and students] are cooperating nicely," said Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth '71.

In dozens of interactions since PSLM began their Living Wage Campaign two years ago, HUPD has never made an arrest or resorted to violence.

Riley himself has spent many hours over the past few days wandering around Mass. Hall and introducing himself to the protesters--many of whom he knows from past PSLM actions, and chatting with them about activities, Riley's family, and academics.

Most protesters--especially students who are not used to Riley's outgoing nature-have refused to introduce themselves, because they say they fear Riley would use their names in future disciplinary action.

However, police have stressed throughout the sit-in that they hope there will be not be any arrests to end the occupation.

-Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu.