By Scott Allen
The Scene staff
Last year marked a 50 percent increase in crime on Forest Park from 2011.
St. Louis Community College released its annual safety report earlier this month, presenting crime statistics from its four campuses. Six crimes were reported at Forest Park in 2012, up from four the year before.
That included two robberies, two aggravated assaults, one drug abuse violation and one sex offense.
“We handle all situations accurately,” said Police Chief Richard Banahan. “We don’t up play or down play. We handle the crimes as they’re reported to us. The officers investigate the crimes fully.”
Banahan feels that, especially compared to other college campuses in the St. Louis area, Forest Park continues to be a safe place for students.
“We’re incredibly blessed that our students are good,” Banahan said. “While (other police departments) are trying to run people off, we’re trying to keep them here. You can’t learn if you don’t feel safe.”
Student Sharron Shelby said she’s never had an issue with crime on campus.
“I feel safe,” she said. “(Campus police officers) are really good.”
The safety-related crimes reported in 2012 included two assaults, one on March 6, 2012, in which a fight occurred, and another on Oct. 17, 2012 in which the victim was accosted by a male and female, after claiming he accidentally touched the female’s leg; an arrest on March 1, 2012 for drug paraphernalia possession; a sex offense which occurred Aug. 24, 2012, in a bathroom near the theatre, where a female victim was touched inappropriately by a male; and two robbery incidents, one of which occurred Nov. 30, 2012, in F Tower, and a cell phone was taken, and the other in which the crime was reported to the St. Louis Police Department and no information was available from the Forest Park PD.
“The officers do a great job and react properly,” said Banahan. “By making this campus safe, we’re creating an environment for learning.”
Mass communications student Terrence Wallace, 27, explained the police presence on campus is necessary.
“We need to have police here,” said Wallace. “You can’t wait on city police if a woman gets mugged or something.”
Banahan explained that at Forest Park, students are more interested in education than in committing crimes.
“Nobody comes here to get in trouble,” he said. “They’re all here to learn. We try to make sure that the crimes that go on where they live or where they visit don’t happen here.
“That’s our job and that’s what we do.”
The crime rate at Forest Park was slightly more than at most other campuses in 2012. Florissant Valley saw two incidents, a burglary and an auto theft, compared to four auto thefts in 2011.
Meramec had four crimes, two burglaries, one liquor violation and one weapons violation, in 2012; with six crimes in 2011.
Wildwood saw no incidents in 2012 or 2011.