The Department of Public Safety has introduced new security measures to coincide with the start of the academic year, ranging from increased patrols to a new self-defense class.This year, DPS increased its staff and assigned more officers to bike patrol. The university also launched a [Rape Aggression Defense Systems class](https://www.thehoya.com/news/dps-to-start-sexual-assault-defense-program/) for women and [redesigned the GOCard](https://www.thehoya.com/news/gocard/).”DPS seeks continual self-improvement, both as an ongoing process and as we approach each new academic year,” said Sgt. Joseph Smith, DPS associate director. “In addition, we analyze crime patterns and adjust our patrols accordingly. Following a positive response from the GU community, we are striving to expand our bike patrol program, which gives DPS greater mobility, allows us to respond more quickly to calls for service and provides a stronger deterrence through its higher visibility. This academic year we have also partnered with GU Benefits and [the Georgetown University Student Association] to introduce Rape Aggression Defense training for students and staff.”Other changes include increased patrols in student residences, Lauinger Library and other busy student spaces.Smith said DPS has introduced a Safe Residence Program, designed to help students prevent break-ins and burglaries. The program arranges for DPS officers to check doors and windows in student residences, he said.”We are also expanding our services with the Adopt-a-Cop program, where we are instructing assigned officers to work in closer partnership with the students and the Residence Life staff and to engage in logical problem-solving of public safety issues,” Smith said. “In addition, we have assigned an Adopt-a-Cop officer to the Lauinger Library during the midnight shift. Since our students study and conduct research well through the night at Lauinger, we want to be there with them to enhance their safety and security.”While there are certainly increases in security, these do not seem to be a direct result of increased crime on campuses this year. Rather, according to Smith, the beginning of the school year often sees a spike in crime.”If you consider that there is a sudden population surge of several thousand people at the beginning of the semester, it is logical to conclude that there might be a corresponding per capita rise in crime,” Smith said.DPS declined to comment on whether the increased security measures were motivated by the recent crimes on Georgetown’s campus. DPS has received two reports of burglary, one report of attempted burglary, one report of assault and one report of sexual assault since Aug. 30.”While I will not form any conjecture on the possible interrelatedness of any ongoing investigations, I will say this: DPS is a proactive public safety department whose foundation is predicated upon the philosophy of community policing. Working in partnership with the community, we analyze all criminal incidents that fall under our purview and develop crime prevention measures accordingly,” Smith said.*- Hoya Staff Writer Yoshi Myers contributed to this report.*”