Chief Loney: rough draft

Aside from can collectors coming in students' houses, making sandwiches, and using cell phones, Chief Carl Loney has few complaints. In just one hour, Chief of Police and Security at Wittenberg University, Carl Loney, opened my eyes to a world of unknown.

Loney has spent 30 years with the Sheriff's department, beginning at age 18. He has been with Wittenberg for the past eight years and claims he would not trade it for anything. "Being a police officer is just me" said Loney. Contrary to popular belief, the Wittenberg police are not out to get students, they are truly more concerned about students' safety.

"Streaking the Hollow has been going on since day one!" said Loney. "It ain't like robbin' a bank in my book!" Loney said that streaking is not destructive, and he's trying to explain to his younger officers that it is a situation that they can (and maybe should) be a little more lenient on.

Loney talked about his tolerance level in comparison to the Springfield police department's. "I think that we are very much a part of the campus life now" Loney explained. He said that being on a college campus, they know what is going on. "We want you to have a good experience here" Loney said. It's not the students versus the police department, in actuality, they're "looking for the element that doesn't belong".

One of those key elements being liquor law violations. The crime log (accessible on Wittenberg's website) shows a significant decrease in liquor referrals since 2006. Although Loney said that alcohol infractions are the biggest crime problem on campus, he also believes that students seem to be taking more responsibility for their actions.

On a comedic note, Loney spoke of one his craziest encounters here at Wittenberg. He was called to Myers hall when a young man discovered he was not alone while using the men's restroom. Straight out of a small hole in the bathroom wall came a snake, looked the student right in the eyes and slithered back in. He chuckled as he told this old story.

The thirteen Wittenberg Police officers (plus Chief Loney) are out for students' safety. The officers are there for students through thick and thin. Loney said, "Just don't vomit in out cars!"