UNIVERSITY POLICE MAY MOVE INTO NEW GARAGE

Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Public Safety has little room to operate from its headquarters in a crowded wing of a residence hall on the south side of campus.

But that could change in the next several years. Southeast officials are considering building new quarters for the DPS in a proposed $12 million parking garage on New Madrid Street near the Show Me Center.

Construction of the garage's first phase could begin next year with the new DPS offices built later. The garage project depends heavily on federal funding, most of which still must be obtained.

A seven-member review team that included Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan and other security experts concluded last spring that the DPS location is inadequate. Their report said the office is hard to find and access. A higher profile would assist with crime prevention, they wrote.

Both the garage and new DPS offices are part of a revised campus master plan the university's board of regents likely will consider in October.

Another possibility is to move the DPS into the alumni center on North Sprigg Street near the Show Me Center once a new alumni building is constructed, school officials say. That construction near Wildwood, the former home of the university's presidents, could begin next year.

Cramped quarters

Doug Richards directs the DPS from offices that were once dorm rooms. In his 15 years at Southeast, he has moved his department four times, the last time six years ago when it moved into Dearmont residence hall.

While records storage, dispatching space and parking are limited, Richards said DPS has more space than it ever had at other locations on campus.

Still, it's not enough.

"The university is very aware we need more room," said Richards, who would like to be in bigger quarters within the next five years.

A move to the north end of campus could provide the DPS space it needs, he said. It also could free up space in Dearmont to house students as the university deals with a growing enrollment.

The logistics of moving the equipment-filled department make it hard to relocate. The department's dispatching center is tied to campus security cameras, fire alarms, the 911 telephone emergency system, weather sirens and other communications equipment.

Fifteen years ago it was easier. "You basically packed up some desks and telephones and you moved," Richards said.

Growing department

When Richards came on board, the DPS was little more than a night-watchman operation. Today, it is a full-fledged police force, he said. The department, which operates around the clock, also manages everything from parking to campus shuttles and emergency operations.

The number of employees has grown to 35 or 40, twice as many as were employed 15 years ago. In addition, the department has as many as 55 to 60 student workers.

Parking at Dearmont is difficult at best, with patrol cars and the public competing for the few spaces near the front door.

"It's not a convenient spot, especially if you are new to campus," said Ross McFerron, a sophomore from Advance, Mo. McFerron said it's easier for most students to walk to the DPS to get a parking permit rather than try to drive there.

Moving the department to the parking garage, where an estimated 1,800 cars would be parked, makes sense, he said. Students, he said, would feel more secure knowing that their cars are parked close to the campus police station.

The proposed parking garage would be built in the parking area west of the Student Recreation Center. That lot currently has about 700 spaces.

Al Stoverink, director of facilities management, said parking spaces would be lost while the garage is constructed. As a result, the university may hold off any construction work until next summer when there are fewer students parking on campus, he said.

The university has received about 600,000 in federal funding for design and site work. The university plans to chip in another $200,000 for the work and hopes to get several million dollars for construction work in next year's federal budget, which takes effect Oct. 1.