By Franchesca Renteria
At the University of the Incarnate Word, the police department is responsible for campus safety regarding issues from vehicle incidents to Title IX reports.
Campus Police Chief John Catts balances crime and media coverage in real time. Part of his job is to be more cautious in pushing out information quickly.
“We have to be careful about what’s released so that we don’t compromise an investigation, especially in the first 24 or 48 hours,” Catts said.
Catts served in the United States Navy and worked for 31 years at the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Police Department. Catts also previously served as the UIW campus intern police chief.
He was honored with the “Police Lifesaving Award” along with another officer at SAISD for rushing to a mother’s side after she was stabbed at least 30 times on August 28, 2012.
Catts mentioned how those first hours of active investigations are crucial. Releasing too much information could jeopardize leads or might even prevent witnesses from even stepping forward to provide statements.
Still, the police department understands the pressure, but in the digital-first era where news spreads rapidly online, just being radio silent can also grow distrust within the public.
“The shift to digital media has made our relationship a little complex,” Catts said. “News gets out there faster. We have stakeholders here, [and] our community needs to know what’s going on.”
For Catts, those stakeholders are the students on campus and constant transparency builds trust over time. The police department publishes a daily crime log showcasing the reported crimes on campus, including the time, date and description of the report. The most common crimes include damage to property, including vehicles, and trespassing.
According to Catts, inquiries about public information requests are normally answered within a day or two, but never longer than 10 days.
Although reports are normally delivered digitally, UIW students can submit a in person written request referencing the Texas code and case number.
Under Title IX, officers and UIW faculty are required to report any potential cases, including potential sex-based harassment.
“If you come to us with a Title IX issue, we have to report it,” Catts said. “We’re mandated by federal law.”
