Bromfield physical education teacher Sue Silver says her motives were “a little selfish” when she asked Harvard Police Officer Kimberly Murphy to create a Safety for Women presentation for Bromfield upperclassmen. In the fall, her daughter will enter college, and Silver wants her, and her classmates, to be prepared. On a recent Thursday morning, Officer Murphy—with help from Officer Daniele Paganelli—granted Silver’s request, delivering a personal safety message to a roomful of junior and senior girls. Murphy emphasized that acting as an assistant coach to Silver has given her perspective on the problem.
“I know there are some kids out there partying,” she said, “but I also know [many] who are not.”
We are here to keep you safe, not to just arrest you and give out tickets.
—Officer Kim Murphy
Chief Edward Denmark offered substantially the same information to the boys, separately, and with an emphasis on recognizing unsafe situations and taking responsibility for themselves and their peers.
With a kindly, nonaccusatory demeanor, Murphy began by revealing the results of a survey the juniors and seniors had taken earlier that week.
“We are here to teach you the right answers,” said Murphy.
The survey showed that some teaching was in order. For instance, 64 percent of the boys and 11 percent of girls thought it was “OK” to make sexual comments to or about someone.
“This is sexual harassment, and it cuts both ways,” explained Murphy.
Another misconception uncovered by the survey concerned alcohol poisoning. It can take as few as five drinks for a 200-pound male to reach the poisoning stage, where breathing is suppressed and the heart can stop. Nearly 75 percent of all students thought it would take many more than five drinks. Murphy explained what to do if a friend passes out.
“Call 911,” she urged, adding, “Sleeping it off? No. That could be the last night that they sleep.”
Despite the serious subject matter, both Murphy and Paganelli sought to put the girls at ease.
“We are here to keep you safe, not to just arrest you and give out tickets,” said Murphy.
The consequences of one’s actions were not ignored, however. Paganelli told a story of a relative who was disfigured after driving drunk. Murphy pointed out that failing to get help for an unconscious friend could, in certain circumstances, lead to a manslaughter charge.
The discussion about consequences of excess drinking and other careless behavior led to the frightening topic of sexual assault. The officers cited several date-rape drugs, all of which are colorless and odorless. At a party avoid punch, which is easily tampered with, and don’t leave your glass unattended, Paganelli advised. Murphy concluded the topic with sobering data: it can happen in Harvard, and it has, “four or five times.”
At the end of the presentation, the girls were silent when Paganelli and Murphy asked for questions. Silver filled the void and got answers for the benefit of the girls: Don’t walk near the edge of the sidewalk and avoid walking alone. Lock your doors religiously. Scream, fight back, and consider getting a permit from the police department for pepper spray. More such advice, noted Murphy, is available in a class about rape and aggression defense, which she and Paganelli teach outside of school and by registration only. Both are certified defense instructors.
Some of the other programs offered by the Harvard Police Department, primarily to Bromfield students, are bicycle and pedestrian safety, holiday safety, anti-bullying, and drug awareness.