WVU police begin frat row patrols

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University police are now patrolling off campus in Morgantown.

The Police Cooperation and Assistance Agreement between university police and the Morgantown Police Department went into effect at 12:00 a.m. Sunday.

Given the number of agencies involved in the planning, the 12-month pilot program went from an idea to reality fairly quickly.

“We had to deal with the university legal staff. We had to deal with the city legal staff, prosecutors, police departments themselves, plus we have code enforcement actions, the fire marshals, the fire department – so a lot of different entities that are involved,” explained Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston.

University officers can enforce all laws and city code in what’s been referred to as frat row or the Greek zone. It’s an area adjacent to WVU’s downtown campus that includes 21 fraternity and sorority houses.

“The number one collective goal is to reduce the amount and volume of nuisance and criminal activities and increase the safety in that particular area of the city,” Preston proclaimed.

Preston said university police patrols in the Greek zone will free up his officers to be reassigned elsewhere in the city.

“Working in this cooperative agreement, we’re hoping for a lot of things involving students that would have only been adjudicated through the criminal court systems can be handled through the interfraternity council or student conduct or student organizational services.”

Legal charges and citations will still be administered by WVU police officers.

In addition, the chief said the level of accountability is increased. Often, citations are minor and don’t make the impact police would like to see on inappropriate, illegal behavior.

“Unfortunately, paying a couple hundred dollar fine is not really that much of a deterrent,” noted Preston. “But, the potential for being suspended or expelled from school, charters being revoked for fraternities or student organizations probably has a much greater deterrent on actions or activities.”

Simulcast radio broadcasts for calls to emergencies will alert both city and university police. Morgantown officers still have authority to respond to frat row.