Five months after UT Police Chief August Washington announced the addition of KPD and UT Police patrols to the Fort Sanders area, violent crime is still a reality to UT students. Two UT students were robbery victims in April, despite the added security measures.

The first victim was attacked on Friday, April 11, around 1:40 a.m. It took place on Laurel Ave. near 16^th Street. According to a UT Police Department Information Advisory, a white male approached the victim with a small pocketknife and demanded his money; the victim refused and an altercation ensued. "The victim was not seriously injured and the knife was not used during the confrontation," police said. The UT police have not released the name of the victim and are still searching for the suspect.

The second mugging happened the next night just a few blocks away. According to police two black males approached a white male in the Knoxville Place parking garage and physically took his wallet. This incident happened around 1 a.m. and no weapons were used; police are still searching for the suspects.

Crime is not rare in the Fort Sanders area, it is the most densely packed area in Knoxville and a majority of residents are students. There have been seven criminal incidents in the area since Chief Washington's announcement in November, leading some to wonder if more can be done.

Students told the Tennessee Journalist their concerns about crime in the area, and voiced their opinions about the measures police are taking to prevent these incidents.

Public Information Officer for the Knoxville Police Department Darrell DeBusk agreed with student concerns in a telephone interview, and he stressed the importance of community involvement.

"This is not just a police issue, it is also a community issue," DeBusk said. He continued by saying that students need to take an active role in crime prevention by making "responsible decisions" when in the Fort Sanders area at night.

According to DeBusk overall crime in the area is down by 10 percent, and, compared to the first quarter of 2007, crime is down 18 percent.

"You can't make any area totally crime free," he said. "Fort Sanders is one of the safest areas in Knoxville."

He argued that some students and parents may have "false perceptions" of the area because of increased coverage of these crimes, and that the department's goal was not only to stop robberies but also inform students about how to keep them from happening. 

Capt. Keith Lambert of the UT Police Department also said that crime was down from last year, and he talked about new measures being taken by the UT Police to prevent crime. On April 16^th police and members of the SGA participated in a Safety Walk around Fort Sanders. He said that four groups walked around assigned sections of Fort Sanders and noted problem areas that were poorly lit or overgrown. Zak Kelley of the SGA will publish the full report next month.

Capt. Lambert said that this was part of a police effort to inform student representatives of dangerous areas, and help them make safe decisions. He also stressed the role that students play in crime prevention by getting involved in safety and prevention efforts.

"The best advice I can give students is to get involved in their safety, report anything suspicious, don't take quick shortcuts and make smart decisions" Capt. Lambert said. UT police have also assigned a 24-hour patrol of the area to help students keep safe at night.

Even though crime has dropped in the Fort Sanders area, is it still a large concern for students. Both police departments agree that it is important to protect all members of the community through enforcement and information. That is why they are urging students to make responsible decisions and participate in their protection.

To report a crime or suspicious activity call UT police at 865.974.3111. In an emergency call 911.