ORLANDO, Fla. — University of Central Florida officials, along with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and UCF police, announced plans to increase community safety and talked about arrests from a recent crime crackdown during a news conference on Thursday.
Officers said there has been an increase in crime and calls for UCF police to patrol off-campus.
Officials said body camera video from UCF police shows a convicted felon and known gang member caught with a gun at an off-campus party, alongside students.
He and two dozen others were cited or arrested over a 3½-week period through a partnership among campus police and the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Sector Two Noise and Alcohol Patrol (SNAP).
Raw: UCF police press conference
"Alcohol has played a significant role in the things you have reported on in the recent past," said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
Earlier this year, the university released a recent crime report that shows a decline in violent offenses around campus; however, property crimes were up by about 10 percent. There were 14 forcible rapes reported around UCF in 2014, three more cases than in 2013.
The incident prompted Demings to redirect resources to the area and target large parties leading up to graduation.
Another video shows the SNAP officers stopping a DUI suspect behind the wheel from driving away.
"During the end of the year, everyone's kind of trying to get loose. They're done with school, so I can see why that's a good time to crack down on something like that," said student Ryan Krumins.
"This takes everybody. You have to pay attention to your surroundings. You can't be lulled into a false sense of security," said UCF police Chief Richard Beary.
Both agencies are also working with apartment complex managers through a "crime-free multi-housing" initiative, creating a network that can alert all nearby complexes about problems.
Follow Karla Ray on Twitter at @KRayWFTV for updates.
http://twitter.com/KRayWFTV/status/601435653381849089
Previous Story: Students want UCF police to patrol, investigate in off-campus areas
WFTV
