Drugs and violent crime, as well as vandalism were the major concerns expressed by residents in the Greek Row neighborhood at Monday’s Greek Row Task Force meeting.

Detective Mike Stewart of the DeKalb Police Department attended to discuss law enforcement issues in the community.

The meeting was the first in a series of meetings to address issues that emerged from the survey given out late last year.

Main concerns within the Greek community included drugs and drug dealing, assaults and vandalism with an emphasis on safety among female respondents. Many students believe there is inadequate police visibility, though the majority think police response time is adequate. Students around the community think the best way to improve safety is through increased police enforcement.

Police Chief Bill Feithen has said the DeKalb police force is understaffed.

“The volume of calls is increasing, more officers are needed,” Stewart said.

The DeKalb Police Department currently has 54 police officers and the city council approved a request by the department for the addition of three more officers.

Feithen has said he would prefer to see seven more added to bring the department up to comparable levels with other college towns.

Stewart said the bike patrol has been doing a good job, but females responding to the survey still do not feel safe in the community.

The establishment of a neighborhood watch in the community also was discussed.

“Our greatest asset is the people in the community,” Stewart said.

Also on the list to improve safety, the group would like to look at lighting, lighted bus shelters and the installation of call boxes.

The task force plans to walk Greek Row to survey where these improvements should be placed. The group wants to cooperate with the NIU police in researching the idea to place call boxes in the neighborhood.

Bus shelters do seem to be in the future of Greek Row.

“I think students coming back next fall can reasonably have bus shelters,” said Mike Evans, Director of Greek Affairs for the Student Association.

Stewart also addressed misconceptions the community may have about the city and campus police departments.

“There’s a common misconception that NIU’s police are not real police officers, but they actually have more power,” Stewart said.

Since the NIU department is funded by the State of Illinois, they have jurisdiction anywhere in any county NIU holds land in, including any satellite campuses.

The DeKalb Police Department only has jurisdiction within the boundaries of DeKalb and may intervene on campuses, while waiting for NIU police to make an arrest. The Greek Row area is maintained by the DeKalb Police Department, though NIU can assist, as was the case in an armed robbery that occurred last week near the Village Commons.

The group also talked of the responses in the survey on economic development within the community. Respondents showed interest in the establishment of a grocery store and pharmacy in the area, as well as interest in more restaurants.

These economic development issues will be addressed in the next working committee meeting which will be held at 7 p.m. March 19, at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St.