Campus News - Spartan Daily

September 24, 2003

By Ken Lotich
Daily Staff Writer
September 24, 2003

As students walked to class along the Paseo de Cesar Chavez Tuesday, they may have noticed a crunched car with its roof caving in and front windshield completely shattered and smoke billowing from the engine.

This was one of the many displays put on by the University Police Department Tuesday on the first day of the fifth annual Safety Fair.

The Safety Fair will continue today from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Phil Kearney, community police officer for UPD and coordinator of the event, said planning the fair took about two months.

The fair is presented to give students information on how to be safe and the resources they have available if they need them, Kearney said.

" We want to show students how dangerous life can potentially be if they don't take some precaution," Kearney said. "We also are here to provide them with information on what to do if there is a disaster or they are a victim of a crime."

Many organizations were present at the event including American Medical Response, The City of San Jose, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the San Jose Police Department and the YWCA.

Each of the organizations had stations with information covering different areas of safety, crime and awareness. Police cars and an ambulance were open to look into or sit in.

The totaled car was a gray Buick Century to show students what might happen if they are driving under the influence, said UPD Sgt. Robert Noriega.

" The car is a more tactual type of display, showing what can happen if you are driving under the influence," Noriega said. "It's possible your vehicle may end up like this, and you'll be in the hospital ... or somebody else's vehicle may end up like this because the DUI driver hit them."

There were also two mobile high-tech simulation-training trailers available to try. One dealt with the use of force as a police officer and the other was a police car-driving simulator.

The use of force simulator put the participant in front of a large screen testing to see how one would deal with certain scenarios. If the participant fired shots, a police academy instructor was able to track on a computer and show on the large screen if excessive force was used or if it was justified.

Nima Pakravan, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, participated in the use of force simulation.
" It got very tense in there," Pakravan said. "It feels very real in there. I can see this training being a very useful tool that every officer should have."

The driving simulator put the participant behind the wheel of a police car, equipped with a police radio and siren. Six screens were placed in front and at the sides of a participant, and the seat would vibrate at a level depending at what speed the vehicle crashed or abruptly stopped.

Sherita Gibson, a junior majoring in advertising, participated in the driving simulator.

" It was a cool experience to get a perspective through a police officer's point of view," Gibson said.

Officers in training are required to go through both simulators, Kearney said.

The San Jose Police Department Canine Unit was also present at the fair. Zack, a 4-year-old scent discrimination bloodhound, was there with his owner, Officer Kevin Baughn.

" He goes with me to work everyday and goes home with me," Baughn said.

Baughn said in Zack's two-and-a-half years with the department he has helped track missing children and homicide suspects.

American Medical Response had paramedics present, along with an open ambulance.

James Macadangdang, a paramedic who works in Sunnyvale, said American Medical Response participated in the Safety Fair to give people an insight and understanding about what they do.

" We came out here today to inform people when to call 911, and what they need to do in case of an emergency," Macadangdang said.

Macadangdang said the open ambulance gathered shocked reactions from participants.

" A lot of people have told me they thought an ambulance was bigger inside," Macadangdang said. "They now are saying it's a lot smaller, there's lots of equipment, and it looks uncomfortable. It's all true."

Katherine Urquia, a senior majoring in English, said she liked the fair because it was informative.

" The fair has a lot of good information," Urquia said. "I was able to find out information about specific numbers to call in a non-emergency for a quicker response."

Capt. Bruce Lowe, public information officer for UPD, said the Safety Fair is put on so UPD and other members of local law enforcement can reach out and introduce themselves to new members of the community.

" The whole thing is meant to be an educational, non-threatening, opportunity for law enforcement and members of the community to talk and get to know one another," Lowe said.