UNLV’s Elique institutes changes

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

A state report criticizing UNLV Police Department policies comes at a time when new UNLV Police Chief Jose Elique is instituting policy changes that he says will prevent future problems.

"My goal is to make this one of the best college police departments in America," said Elique, a veteran police administrator from New York, where he ran the 21-campus New York University public safety system. "My contract (at UNLV) may be for two years, but I intend to be here a lot longer than that."

Here are some of the changes Elique has initiated in his first two months on the job:

On top of those changes, Elique is pushing for more community-type policing among his officers to change a negative image that members of the campus community and others have developed toward the department.

"I absolutely view my role as somewhat of a healer," he said. "If there is a perception of separation or a perception that the officers are unapproachable, then it is my job to change those perceptions."

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