SU Partners With Community for Public Safety

When Mike Sletten arrived at Seattle University almost 25 years ago, the university neighborhood was half the size it is today with twice the crime problems. This only fueled Sletten's mission to create a safer campus and surrounding neighborhood. Sletten says he sees his job as partnering with neighbors in Squire Park, other institutions and organizations and police officers in the East Precinct to promote public safety. He shares how he has achieved this and more.

How did you work with partners in the community who 25 years ago faced such significant challenges?

It takes communication, patience and perseverance. I came to recognize it involves a lot of understanding and hands-on involvement. You also have to pay attention and address situations before they worsen.

Do you distinguish between campus and neighborhood safety?

We're not drawing a line in the sand. If a problem is impacting our campus, it's also impacting the neighborhood. We have to be proactive good neighbors and pay attention to what occurs off campus. Sometimes those who are committing crimes are apprehended because we saw what was happening. It might be graffiti incidents, a car prowl in progress or a business being burglarized.

We create a presence whether it's on foot, on bike or in a vehicle such as our Night Hawk, which we use to escort SU community members to and from campus at night. Our escort and perimeter safety patrols have a good neighbor block-watch impact and deter incidents such as robberies, vehicle break-ins and thefts near the campus.

When do those who live in the neighborhood contact your office?

Neighbors do call our campus Public Safety office (206-296-5990) when students off campus aren't behaving appropriately. It could be 3:30 in the morning or 3:30 in the afternoon. Those reports we send directly to Darrell Goodwin, our associate dean of students.

What's the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Creating and sustaining a safe campus and safe neighborhood is my joy and my professional passion. I take great satisfaction in working with neighborhood representatives and the East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition. The work and the change the coalition has accomplished have been especially rewarding for me, in contributing to both our neighbors and the university.