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volume 71 Issue 3

FIRST COPY FREE

wednesday, sept. 11, 2013

Police

additional copies 50¢

THE

THINNING

University police give chief low ranking

BLUE

Mozes Zarate

Staff Writer

Chico State’s police chief was rated poorly by her fellow officers for the second year in a row in a survey conducted on behalf of a statewide university police officers organization. In the survey, one of many published by the Statewide University Police Association, Chief Robyn Hearne was ranked second-to-last out of 23 police chiefs on California State University campuses. Hearne scored below average in all categories, including integrity, crime fighting, character and accountability. Bullying, favoritism and low department morale were concerns voiced in an anonymous comments section of the report. Hearne’s overall Lorraine score improved from Hoffman 1.85 out of 5 in 2012 to Vice president a still below-average for business and 2.38, according to the finance survey. In the wake of the survey, many high-level campus officials spoke in favor of Hearne, praising her integrity and thoughtfulness. “Chief Hearne has my complete support,” said Lorraine Hoffman, the vice president of business and finance. Hoffman spoke highly of Hearne’s leadership in developing new public safety programs including Freshman Safe Start, Campus Connection and Safe Place. Deborah Stewart, the chief of staff at the Student Health Center, also praised Hearne. “Her integrity is unquestionable,” Stewart said. “She is exceedingly thoughtful and responsive to the community concerns, with a very broad vision for protecting health and safety of the Chico campus community and beyond.” In an interview with the Chico Enterprise-Record, Hearne said that departmental changes, like increased foot patrols, may have contributed to the negative responses. She also raised the possibility of duplicate survey filings, claiming that more officers responded to the survey than there are union officers at Chico State. Lance Conlan, an officer in the university police department, said many officers were disappointed by Hearne’s response to the Chico E-R. “Obviously, people like to focus on the positives and move forward,” Conlan said. “But that doesn’t negate the negatives.” In an emailed statement to The Orion, Hearne expressed commitment to making positive changes on campus and gave thanks for the people at the University Police Department. “While change can be perceived as nega-

LINE

population

police officers

There are currently 64 officers patrolling Chico. The last time the number was that low was in 2002, when the population was at 65,000. As of 2011, Chico now has a population of 86,290.

-3

Three special police teams, including the mounted horse patrols, disbanded as a result of budget cuts.

The Chico Police Department is facing a $1,608,770 reduction in operating funds under the proposed 2013-2014 budget.

» please see hearne | A4

Chico police face double whammy of increasing crime and fewer officers Jessie Severin

Staff Writer

Crime is increasing in Chico, and the number of police officers available to fight it is at a decade-long low. City officials, police officers and former public safety officials are all calling the lack of sworn police officers an ongoing problem compounded by the city’s recent cuts to funding for public safety.

Former analyst sees ‘alarming’ trends

The increase of stabbings in Chico is alarming.” Woodward understands why his position had to be cut to preserve funding for patrol officers. “The decision the department made to eliminate my position, I understand, there was no one left to cut,” Woodward said. The lack of officers on the street is concerning given the uptick in crime, Woodward said. “It’s an all-time low, a historic low,” he said. “It’s something the citizens should be up in arms about.”

Robert Woodward, a former crime statistician Cuts and reducIt’s an all-time low, a hisfor the city of tions toric low. it’s something Chico, was disThere are 64 citizens should be up in missed after the sworn police offiarms about. union contract cers in Chico, and for Chico’s public two more are on safety personnel the way after the Robert Woodward former crime statistician for the was passed on July City Council apcity of Chico 2 by the City Counproved funding for cil. The contract dethe additional potailed officers’ upsitions during the dated wages, hours summer. and the new budget for public safety. The total numbers of officers patrolling Chico experienced a general increase in the streets on any given day could be less violent crimes and various forms of theft than that, said Capt. Lori MacPhail of the within the first five months of 2013, accord- Chico Police Department. ing to one of the last reports filed by Wood“There could be four or so officers out on ward before his dismissal. disability on any given week,” MacPhail The frequency said. of assaults stood Police are doing out on the report, their best with the Police administration does nearly equaling the resources that they not feel this is adequate previous year’s tohave, MacPhail but we are working with tal with 114 by the said. what we have been given. end of May. “Police admin“There has defistration does Capt. Lori MacPhail initely been an innot feel this is Chico Police crease of violent adequate but we crimes,” Woodare working with ward said. “In the what we have been last year or so, we’ve had an increase of given,” MacPhail wrote in an email to The stabbings. As for the other trends, there’s Orion on Monday. been a bit of an uptake in burglaries as well. » please see Police | A4

Library flood causes $80,000 in damage, doesn’t derail construction Staff report

The Orion

A redesign of the Laptop Lounge in Meriam Library will continue without delay after it was promised to be revamped by the start of the fall semester. Interior architecture students originally envisioned beginning construction for the project during summer break, said Kijeong Jeon, an interior architecture professor and program coordinator, in a previous Orion article. While there was no redesign work done in the Laptop Lounge this summer, the room did get undergo an unexpected flood, however.

The flood

A plastic tube providing water to the coffee vending machine in the Laptop Lounge burst in June, flooding part of the first floor, said Joe Wills, Chico State’s director of public af-

fairs and publications. The makeover Water went below the first floor into the Stephanie Dolim, a senior interior architecTechnology and Learning Program offices, ture major, is one of the students redesigning displacing the occupants for a few days, Wills the Laptop Lounge. said. “The construction permits weren’t apCarpet was replaced proved in time to around the vending achieve the goal of Students design for stumachine and the vencompleting the projdents. This is a part of their dor was called for reect over summer,” learning and training to be quired maintenance. Dolim wrote in an professionals. “Because it’s their email to The Orion. equipment the responThe students comBelle Wei sibility lies with the pleted their design Provost and vice president vendor,” Wills said. during the spring, for academic affairs The flood cost and it takes several roughly $80,000 in dammonths for the camage, he said. pus to complete the final construction docu“That area is not back to where it was and ments, gain state approval and put the project then of course there is a pending redesign,” out to bid, wrote Lorraine Hoffman, vice presWills said. ident for business and finance, in an email to The Orion.

INDEX

“So, I knew that the project would not be able to move into construction until winter break,” Hoffman wrote. When given this project, the group of student designers were instructed to come up with ideas as if they had little to no money for a budget, Dolim wrote. The budget has yet to be finalized. The idea to refresh the drab study area was envisioned by Belle Wei, the provost and vice president for academic affairs. She pictured it as an alternative place for students to congregate and get a hands-on learning experience instead of going out and partying. “Students design for students,” Wei said. “This is a part of their learning and training to be professionals.” The Orion can be reached at

editorinchief@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter

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