“Two kids smoking pot.”

Those are the words of the only anonymous information submitted thus far through the U. Alaska-Anchorage Police Department’s new Silent Witness Program.

The program has only been in place since the end of the 2010 spring semester.

UPD in cooperation with IT services at UAA created the program. It is an online form easily accessible through UPD’s webpage where concerned citizens can provide the department with tips and information.

According to the Silent Witness webpage, the program was designed to allow anyone to report criminal activity anonymously, report suspicious activity and to make UAA a safer place.

Universities throughout the nation have been using similar programs for years. Once IT Services worked out the bugs of the webpage, it was easily created. UPD simply modeled the program after others already in use around the country.

It is something that the department has wanted to implement at UAA for a long time, according to Sgt. Michael Beckner.

The webpage states, “This form is intended to aid in information gathering for events that have taken place and you have information to share. However, you may remain anonymous.”

There is a space for contact information on the form, but it is clearly labeled optional.

Whoever may choose to submit information has a short list of types of crimes or incidents that they can pick from. The choices include drugs and alcohol, domestic violence and abuse, stalking and harassment, assault, disruptive and concerning behavior and other.

Other areas to fill out on the form include location of the incident, the date and time it took place, and a description of the incident witnessed.

The information submitted via the online form is reviewed by the UPD Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4p.m. This excludes UAA holidays.

Beckner and the department are seeking any information people may have. Anything from a student having problems with a roommate taking drugs to strangers walking around campus.

“We might have a crime occur where people don’t want to get involved. Now information can be relayed through the program, so you don’t even have to give a your name,” Beckner said. “We are a small department and we can’t be everywhere, so the students and faculty are our eyes and ears.”

Programs such as Silent Witness are designed to allow ordinary citizens a safe means to provide law enforcement information, but college age students are often reluctant to come forward. Others are scared to the point of where they would rather not be involved.
“Unfortunately, today’s culture and a lot of student’s being a young age causes them to not reveal information,” Beckner said. “This way, if it’s something we follow up on, we don’t know where the information came from, and in this way it relieves pressure on someone who wants to help out.”

Trish Rowse, civil engineer major, believes the program could make the campus safer. If people can remain anonymous to the wrongdoer, then they should be more willing to report something, according to Rowse.

“If it comes to where I felt the need to use it I would,” Rowse said. “If I feel something needs to be done about a situation it would be more convenient to use (Silent Witness) than actually finding or calling a police officer to tell them what’s going on.”

On the other hand, Amara Vandoren, psychology major, stated that the Silent Witness is something she could see herself using, but she has never felt unsafe on campus.

“The only time I’ve really felt in danger is when moose are on campus, but nothing crime related,” Vandoren said.

Students will also be glad to know that the program is of no cost to them. Being created in conjunction with IT services, no new fees will be added to the cost of tuition as a result of Silent Witness.

The received information of two people smoking marijuana near a quad late one night resulted in an extra patrol being conducted, and no one has been charged or arrested.

At the beginning of fall semester 2010, Beckner hopes to publicize the Silent Witness Program so more students will be aware of its existence and hopefully use it. A number of students have already expressed interest, according to Beckner.

“I know we’re going to get a lot of pranks, but it doesn’t matter,” Beckner said. “I’m looking for the tips that help us out and that’s what counts.”