Although she sometimes must enforce unpopular rules, as a participant in NIU's Community Oriented Policing Services program, Moore-Stalling's main priority is getting to know the students she protects. Doing so strengthens trust, builds cooperation and improves communication between the public and police. By knowing people on a personal basis, COPS officers hope that citizens will be more inclined to approach them with their problems so they can work out a solution before it escalates into a serious matter. My role as a COPS officer is to interact with students and learn their concerns. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with their problems before it ends up in the criminal justice system.
COPS officers try to resolve situations before they reach the point where an arrest is needed.
Moore-Stallings recalls a heated argument between two roommates in the residence halls last semester. She was able to stop the pushing and name-calling and with the aid of resident assistants, work out a new living arrangement. To get to know the students, Moore-Stallings spends most of her time among them. Sometimes I like to go to the buildings, such as DuSable Hall, during peak times so I can greet students and shake their hands. The university has received a COPS grants for three straight years, allowing the hiring of new six officers for the federally funded program.