Students return to Morgantown with heightened police presence and emergency calls
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MORGANTOWN – As West Virginia University students arrive on campus this week, local officials anticipate increased police presence and emergency calls.
Chief Eric Powell of the Morgantown Police Department said that as the city population doubles in size with the students’ return, so do calls for service. He said the most routine requests are for assistance, specifically regarding substance intoxication injury.
Powell said that traffic concerns also increase as students come back to campus, but he and other officers patrol regularly to avoid buildup.
"We already have a good grip on where the trouble areas are, and we'll make sure that there's more of a presence in those areas, where people tend to speed or congestion happens," Powell said. "We'll usually have at least one officer keeping a close eye out in those areas during specific times we identified ... those coincide when the students are coming in and out of class."
Powell recommends that for the first few weeks of classes, students and community members carpool or walk as much as possible to their destinations. He ensured that the MPD enforces distracted driving and seat belt laws at all times.
"For the first couple of weeks, things are a little bit hectic," he said. "People are moving in, and there's even more traffic. Plan ahead. Make sure you know where you're going and make sure you have a plan to get there and how to get back."
Powell warned against walking alone in poorly lit areas at night. He also stressed that you should not be afraid to approach a police officer in your time of need.
"We welcome anyone notifying us when they do see a problem ... to get a hold of us as quickly as possible, so we can deal with the problem when it happens, rather than contacting us at a later date," Powell said. "We try very hard to balance the two, the needs of the student population as well as the needs of permanent residents, and provide adequate service."
Christopher Goode, the chair of emergency medicine for WVU Medicine and executive vice president for system integration, said that the emergency medicine and urgent care departments also anticipate an increase in traffic as students return to the city. He said the most common incidents are accidents playing recreational sports, acute illnesses, chronic pain and more.
He stressed that many injuries related to alcohol could be prevented by taking accountability and looking out for your peers.
"If you do partake in alcohol or other substances, we would ask first that you don't," he said. "If you do, do it responsibly, and as a friend, a roommate, a resident advisor, that you keep a close eye on your friends and colleagues if they are partying, for lack of a better term because those are likely the ones that are fall-related, alcohol-overuse related or intoxication-related."
Goode also warned that students with known chronic illnesses have a trusted, local primary care provider to ensure residents have ongoing medication and medical treatment plans.
Goode said the biggest adjustment local hospitals make is on home football game days. Regardless of the influx at the football stadium, Goode said that they have a strong EMS and law enforcement team on staff to help provide emergency care and transport patients to and from the hospital.
Goode asked that students be aware of their surroundings and help one another.
"We want you to get a great education. We want you to enjoy your time in Morgantown. We don't want to see you for anything bad," Goode said. "We're happy to see you, if you need us, but I would just tell students, particularly, to be very mindful of the surroundings and the situations they're putting themselves in and as a friend, keep an eye out for them."
Goode encourages upper classmen and permanent Morgantown residents to always extend a hand to someone unfamiliar with the area to avoid putting anyone in a dangerous situation. He stressed that the transition from home to college is strenuous mentally and physically.
"Take that opportunity to say 'Hi' if somebody looks lost, right? Help them find their place here in Morgantown," he said. "Life can be hard, so don't be afraid to ask for help."