Rutgers Students: Why No Crime Alert, Statement After Former Student's Death?

Following a letter to editor submitted to Patch last week, the parent of a Rutgers University student is bringing attention to a petition aimed at instituting a more cohesive alert system between the Rutgers and New Brunswick police departments.

The petition, posted on change.org by the University’s student body, is titled: Email Rutgers community regarding Billy McCaw’s murder and develop a cohesive crime alert system & strategic safety plan between the NBPD and the RUPD, and is addressed to University President Robert Barchi.

Jacqui Klein’s daughter, Jenna, personally knew McKenna, the former student who was found dead in a backyard in New Brunswick last month. McCaw's death was ruled a homicide and is under investigation.

“This murder happened just 6 blocks from where my daughter lives ‘off-campus,’” Klein said in an email blast Monday morning. “There was and still has been no crime alert sent to the Rutgers community since it is not official Rutgers property.  The murderer is still at large and there is no cohesive system between the Rutgers PD and New Brunswick PD for safety and crime alerts.”

The petition reads, in part:

“We as a student body feel that Rutgers University has overlooked this horrific event for too long. We feel both unsafe in our campus community and disrespected that our administration has ignored our grief and cries for help.

“There have been multiple student-organized events in Billy’s honor, including a candlelight vigil with over 300 attendants and a Rutgers basketball game with a moment of silence to remember his love for the school and its athletics. Students have also organized a fundraiser to support Billy’s family in their time of need, which has so far raised over $26,000. We do not understand why our university has ignored what is clearly so important to its students.

“Rutgers - it is never too late to do the right thing. Let your students teach the university this time. Billy McCaw left a lasting impression on our community. Acknowledge it, express sympathy, and inspire confidence that safety concerns are important for every human being in your community.”

To read and/or sign the full petition, visit change.org.