FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A population equivalent to a small city, 2,400 students live in six University of Arkansas residence halls on the north side of campus. University of Arkansas Police opened the department’s first substation in one of those halls, Reid Hall, on Thursday, Oct. 9, in an effort to provide students greater security and more convenient access to police services.

The substation will have a university police officer on duty 24 hours a day and seven days a week to patrol the north section of campus, take police reports and break down barriers between students and the police.

“Our department had discussed the value of having a substation like this for two or three years, but finding a location was always the problem,” said UAPD director Stephen Gahagans. “When the housing office contacted us and offered us this space in Reid Hall, it presented a great opportunity to increase our service to the fastest growing and most concentrated population we have on campus.”

One officer will be on duty at the substation at any given time, either in the office or patrolling. Gahagans says officers will be able to patrol on foot, on bicycle or even on a Segway, depending on circumstances. When the officer is on patrol, students can still call University Police when they need assistance. If the on-duty officer is busy, another UAPD officer can be dispatched to the substation in a matter of minutes.

“We see this as a way to head off problems, as well as providing improved security and safety for our students,” said Reggie Houser, assistant director of university housing. “We hope this will help break down barriers between students and the University Police. We want students to know that if they have a problem they can talk to an officer and get help, perhaps before it even becomes a criminal matter. We think the substation will help create an atmosphere of trust.”