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STOP

What is STOP?

STOP (Students on Patrol) was created in August 1990, by the Illinois State University Police Department, the former Office of Student Life, and the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences. Unfortunately STOP ceased to continue after 2001. However, during the time it existed, STOP was a valuable resource for Illinois State University. STOP members detected numerous criminal actions which resulted in criminal prosecution, as well as other safety and security problems on the campus. There is no accurate method for determining the effectiveness of the visible deterrence STOP had on crime during the hundreds of hours of logged patrol time.

STOP was not only valuable to the University as a whole, but was also beneficial to its numerous members over the years. Since its beginnings, STOP members donated their time and effort to make the campus safer for everyone. STOP provided its members with valuable life experience. Many former STOP members continued on to become police officers for municipal, state, and federal agencies. Others used their time in STOP as real world volunteer experience on resumes, increasing their marketability in a competitive job field.

With the increased interest in safety, and with a commitment by student leaders, there is now a renewed effort to bring STOP back to the Illinois State University campus. Once again, STOP will be the “eyes and ears” of campus, dedicated to protecting life and property.

Updates

Member Schedule

Week 16

07/31/2009

STOP now has its own Facebook page entitled, Illinois State University's Students on Patrol (STOP).

07/17/2009

Greetings!

It’s time for another update on what we’ve been working on this summer for the STOP program. I recently attended the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) training in Chicago and picked up several new ideas for promoting and sustaining our Students on Patrol program.

One of the great things we are planning is STOP’s participation in the President’s Volunteer Service Awards program (http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov). The President’s Volunteer Service Award gives Presidential recognition to individuals and groups who have made a sustained commitment to volunteer service. Volunteers earn the award by completing a specified number of hours in support of several initiatives, including public safety. Depending on number of hours achieved in 12 months, recipients can receive:

An official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin
A personalized certificate of achievement
A congratulatory letter from the President of the United States
A letter from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation

We are also working with our county Emergency Management Agency on forming a local Citizens Corps Council (http://www.citizencorps.gov). Citizen Corps is FEMA's grassroots strategy to bring together government and community leaders to involve citizens in all-hazards emergency preparedness and resilience. STOP would be a part of the local council and be eligible for grant funding to support our initiatives.
I have also recruited two more officers from our department to assist with the STOP program; Corporal Michael Gardner and Officer Jessika Lopez. We are hard at work reviewing and revising the STOP training and policy manuals to be ready for the new semester. Hopefully you will get a chance to visit with Corporal Gardner and Officer Lopez this fall as they are very excited to be part of STOP.
Be sure to thank your representatives from the Student Government Association for agreeing to purchase 500 safety whistles. The whistles are a promotional item for Festival ISU this year and they help raise safety awareness on campus. We would also love to get some volunteers for Festival ISU this year to hand out brochures and recruit for STOP. I’m putting together a banner and brochures for the event.
If you haven’t already seen it, STOP now has its own web page on the ISU Police web site and a Facebook page is also in the works, thank you Katie!

We hope all of you are having a safe summer and we look forward to seeing you this fall.

Lt. Woodruff

“The STOP program was my first introduction into the world of Law Enforcement. By observing and assisting the Illinois State University Police, I became aware of the roles and duties within police agencies. I saw how the police officers interacted with citizens, while attempting to make the campus a better and safer place. The STOP program made me more adept at my skills of observation, and even provided me an opportunity to supervise other STOP members. During interviews, the information I learned through the STOP program gave me a distinct advantage over the other qualified law enforcement applicants.” -DEA Special Agent and STOP Alumni, Craig F.

Stop Application

We are currently taking applications for the Spring 2010 semester.

What are the requirements?

Must be an ISU student
18 years of age or older
Subject to a criminal background check: Anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or some misdemeanor offenses, are ineligible for STOP. Those with multiple questionable police contacts may also be excluded.
Failing to note a conviction in the application will result in disqualification.
Complete a mandatory training session and pass a written exam
Adhere to all local, state, and federal laws, as well as University policies

What’s in it for me?

You gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are taking an active role in the safety of yourself and others on ISU’s campus.
You can attend specialized training or guest speakers at monthly meetings, promoting a better understanding of safety issues and law enforcement practices.
STOP provides real world experience for your resume and may give you an edge with potential employers. Many past members now work for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Recognition for your service through the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the STOP Achievement Awards.

What will STOP be doing?

Patrol the central campus of ISU, reporting suspicious activity to ISUPD
Conduct emergency blue light testing
Report burnt out lights or other safety concerns
Provide late night escorts for students, faculty, and staff
Assist ISUPD Dispatch
Develop and promote crime prevention programs on campus.
Patrol special events such as ISU Football tailgating.
Provide traffic control for special events.
Check doors on academic buildings during restricted access hours.
Assist in emergencies and disasters.
Participate in emergency drills.
Court room testimony as a witness in criminal cases
Other duties as assigned.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I patrol the campus?
- All STOP members will serve as a two person patrol team. Should an odd number of members be present, there will be a three person team. No STOP member will ever patrol by themselves.
Will STOP be calling in parties?
- No. STOP is NOT “party patrol.” The primary purpose of STOP is to help make the ISU campus safer for everyone by reporting criminal acts and providing a visible deterrence for crime.
Will STOP be working during semester breaks or holidays?
- No. We will not be offering STOP services during the Fall, Winter, and Spring Breaks.
Do I have to be a Criminal Justice major?
- No. Any student that meets the above requirements can join STOP.
Are STOP members employees of the police department?

No. While STOP members work closely with and under the supervision of the police department, they are not employees.

Is this a paid position?

STOP is currently a volunteer only organization. Recognition is achieved through the Presidents Service Awards, training opportunities, career enhancement, and the satisfaction in knowing that you make a difference.

What hours will STOP work?

The Fall semester hours are as follows: Sundays through Wednesdays will consist of one shift from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am; Thursdays through Saturdays will consist of two shifts 8:00pm to 1:00am AND 10:00 pm to 3:00 am.

What if those hours don’t fit my school/work schedule?

We will have additional hours available for special events such as ISU Football Tailgating.

How will STOP report crimes?

STOP members will be assigned a radio with direct contact to the police department.

Will STOP count as volunteer hours for my class?

It depends on individual faculty members, but the Criminal Justice Dept. has already approved STOP as meeting their volunteer hours requirement.

Will STOP have bicycles or vehicles to use?

Not at this time, though it is being considered.

What role does the STOP Executive Board have?

The Executive Board is responsible for the decisions regarding finance, marketing, recognition awards, and event planning. The board will report to the STOP Advisors.

Who are the STOP Advisors?

STOP advisors are sworn officers selected by the Patrol Commander of the ISU Police Department. The advisors are responsible for the selection and background checks of all applicants, creation of policies and procedures, training, and overall supervision of the STOP program.

How can I apply?

Complete the application located at the top of this page and submit it to the ISU Police by September 18th.