Police Chief Sees Bettering Relationship

Police Chief Sees Bettering Relationship
By: Hannah Hoffman

Most college campus police chiefs are sticklers for the law- nothing gets by them. But Wittenberg Police Chief, Carl Loney, makes it a priority to get the message across campus that “it is not an us against them” type of relationship.

Nicknamed “the e-mail man” for his almost daily security and weather updates, Chief Loney has been in the police force since he was 18 years old and specifically been in the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years. Not only has he, personally, dedicated all of his adult life to the task force, but his father and grandfather were also very involved public servants.

It is because of his experience that Loney stresses that “not all education takes place in the classroom” and encourages learning from many different perspectives. In terms of Wittenberg’s culture, Loney says this is why he feels the college campus calls for a different approach in security and enforcement.

Although the Chief says “the laws are the laws and we all have to follow them,” he also thinks that “[the Wittenberg Police] have a different tolerance level than [the Springfield Police] when dealing with students.” An example, that he says is the most common, is underage drinking. Loney points out that there are not immediate arrests for underage drinking at Wittenberg, and many students go through the referral process first, before getting more severely punished. He also mentions the escort service where a student may be under the influence and underage, but an officer will drive the student home, no questions asked, to ensure safety first.

“We are more of a service provider than an enforcement agency.” Loney says that Wittenberg Police and Security have become more comfortable, friendly, and understanding of the student population and the activity they partake in, especially through the years that he has been chief.

Even though Loney puts himself on the side of the students, he makes it clear that Wittenberg Police and Security are on campus to provide order and protection. Crime rates have significantly decreased since he has become chief. He, however, gives himself little credit and says that it is the actual officers that respond to the “30 calls a night” they receive for the escort service.

“I firmly believe in taking care of our district…I personally have graffiti remover and go out and take care of it myself…I wouldn’t trade [this job] for the world.”