Residents living in the northwest section of DeKalb City may notice more police patrolling the area than usual.

That’s because the NIU police, DeKalb police and DeKalb County police made an agreement in September 2011 to increase their presence in the northwest area of the city, commonly known as Eco Park. Bill Nicklas, NIU associate vice president for institutional planning and sustainability, said the police decided to patrol the area more often because there was a relatively high volume of emergency calls originating from the area.

The police do not provide a protective presence in the area, said Vinod Deonarine, junior mechanical engineer. Deonarine lives near Eco Park Drive and Regent Drive.

“It’s more of an intimidation presence,” Deonarine said.

DeKalb Police Lt. Gary Spangler said the police presence was increased because there has been an onset of warm weather. With warm weather comes larger parties and more outdoor events, he said.

People are more likely to get in a fight and students are more likely to be found wandering intoxicated in warm weather, said DeKalb Police Lt. Carl Leoni.

“Things get a little more wild,” Leoni said.

Spangler said he didn’t think the increased police presence would last throughout the summer, as there will be fewer students and fewer emergency calls, he said. Leoni said the strong police presence will probably be seen again in the fall.

Spangler said increasing the police presence in the northwest section of DeKalb wasn’t costly.

The NIU police department agreed to increase their own presence in the northwest area to quell any situation that may arise, Leoni said.

Nicklas said the response from residents in the area is positive.

“I would say it’s made a difference,” Nicklas said.

Junior communications major Kyle Dockstader, who lives near Eco Park Drive and Regent Drive, said he notices numerous police officers where he lives every day. He said he doesn’t think much crime happens in the area.

NIU Police Sgt. Alan Smith was not available to comment.