A New Police Major for Patrol

Implement a new computer program to identify and track crime patterns at Duke.

Enhance police patrols on and off campus.

Facilitate safety communication between the Duke and Durham communities.

These are among the priorities for Major Gloria Graham, the new uniform patrol commander for Duke Police.

"In regards to security and crime, all college campuses have similar challenges, such as personal property being stolen from cars and dorm rooms," said Graham, 35, who joined Duke Police last year from the University of Southern California after a national search. "At Duke, we're planning to address those challenges holistically by exploring every option and implementing programs that have proven successful on other campuses."

Graham's 12-year law enforcement career also included stints at Florida Atlantic University and Indiana State University. An Indiana native, she majored in criminology at ISU and graduated in the top 10 percent of her class from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1998. She brings expertise in strategic planning, communications and community education.

Graham, who recently completed Durham's 23-week police academy training, is ready to dig in and establish a strong rapport with the Duke community. She's already had to deal with tough issues, such as the murder of Abhijit Mahato, a graduate student in the Pratt School of Engineering, in his off-campus apartment in January.

"That happened on the first night that I was on-call at Duke," Graham said. "When we responded to the scene, Durham Police were already there, and I recognized some of the officers because they were instructors at the academy. It's helpful for Duke officers to know the people in the Durham department because it builds trust between both agencies. We're going to be working together and brainstorming a lot, so establishing trust is crucial."

One of the first items on Graham's extensive "to-do list" is to implement CompStat, a crime reduction management tool introduced by the New York City Police Department in 1994 that is now used nationwide.

"CompStat tracks crime statistics and uses that information, along with input from every officer, to develop deployment strategies that pinpoint areas of concern," Graham said. "During our weekly CompStat meetings, which will be starting soon, we'll be discussing any crimes that occurred and asking for input from the line officers and patrol supervisors to come up with feasible solutions."

For example, she said, if there's a spike in the number of thefts in a specific area, whether in a residence hall or hospital cafeteria, Duke Police will adjust their patrolling and implement other safety precautions, such as notifying students and employees who frequent the troubled area.

"CompStat allows departments to pinpoint very specific problems and address them in a timely and comprehensive manner," Graham said. "A community's perception of crime, which is often based on factors other than actual crime rates, determines whether people feel safe. By implementing CompStat, we will have a clearer view of the big picture, which will allow us to help create a better-informed and safer community."

Aaron Graves, Duke's associate vice president of Campus Safety and Security, also witnessed the effectiveness of CompStat -- and Graham's policing ability -- at the University of Southern California. Graves, who joined Duke in January, 2006, was executive director and chief of public safety at USC from 2003 to 2006.

Graves said Duke's campus is relatively safe with the most common crimes being property crimes and alcohol-related incidents. He said adding Graham to Duke's staff will further boost strategic safety planning on campus. During the Durham police academy, Graham completed 920 hours of training (300 hours more than the North Carolina state requirement), including courses in sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment and hazardous materials.

"She is a highly skilled campus police professional, and I am confident she will add value to the Duke community as well," Graves said

At USC, Graves said, Graham worked closely with the student community and helped build a cooperative relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Among the many programs she coordinated at USC, Graham launched efforts to deter thefts in residence halls and off-campus housing.

"I'm really excited about being at Duke," she said. "At USC, I was proud to work closely with the student groups and the L.A.P.D. I'm looking forward to establishing the same type of rapport with the Duke community."

In response to the Mahato homicide and several robberies near campus, Duke Police has enhanced patrols in several neighborhoods, including near LaSalle Street and Morreene Road.

Graham is currently examining initiatives to enhance dialogue and communication between Duke police and students, faculty and staff. She met with Student Affairs to begin organizing safety seminars for undergrads and grads who live on and off campus. And she attends Durham Police's weekly staff meetings.

"Communication is really the key to controlling crime," Graham said. "We want to spread the word to students, faculty and staff about ways they can stay safe."