By Matthew Patrick, Columnist
I am discomforted by the amount of speculation and negativity circulating about the university police department, particularly with regard to parking tickets.
I understand that there are no perfect police departments, but our officers do a good job at protecting us in a not-so-safe part of town.
I cannot remember anyone being hurt or physically harmed because of OCUPD’s negligence.
Officers even offer to escort students to their dorms or apartments to ensure they are safe when walking on campus at night.
These things make a few parking tickets seem acceptable.
I too have received my share of parking violations. But most tickets given are because students simply are lazy in their parking selection or in the quality of the parking job itself.
I recently heard a faculty member say something particularly insightful about the campus uproar about parking violations.
The faculty member said, “If you do not want to receive a parking ticket, don’t park illegally.”
Some students have stated that the officers should not make the rounds on campus with the sole purpose of looking for parking violators.
If officers did not make regular parking checks, our parking spaces would be a free-for-all, resulting in even less space than already is available.
Sometimes you just have to follow the rules. Fines have gone up. You may receive a parking ticket that you don’t agree with, but that is why there is an option to appeal the ticket.
Just because there may be a few parking tickets that some students do not agree with is not reason enough to be negative about the entire police department and their exemplary job protecting the campus from danger.
Do not let your disagreement cloud your judgment of the OCUPD.
Being a police officer can be a thankless job, but one of those officers could save our lives some day.
I am glad to know they are there, even though they have given me tickets.
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