Dinner with a Detective, geared toward opening up communication between ISU police and students, will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. today in the Linkins Dining Center.

“One of the unique aspects of [law enforcement in higher education] is we have a student population that pretty much turns over every four years,” Aaron Woodruff, ISU police chief, said.

“So it’s a continuous education process, and you have to continually reach out to the students because you’re always having a quarter of your population turnover from year to year,” he added.

There will most likely be a table set up where students can ask questions or mention any criticism they want brought to the attention of campus police.

Officers will also walk around the dining center and speak with students in order to get additional feedback.

There can be miscommunication between police and student, Woodruff said. Students may also be afraid to voice their opinion.

Often, students do not realize they have a say in ISU police or that the department is there to serve students, Woodruff said.

“They’re our primary asset that we’re there to protect and we want to make sure we’re providing the services that they need, at least to the best of our ability,” he added.

This is the third event in a series. The other two were Lunch with the Law and Coffee with a Cop.

The multiple events are to allow people with different schedules to see and speak with ISU police.

Tracy Widergren, campus dining’s marketing coordinator, believes students do have concerns and this event gives them the opportunity to have a candid conversation with police. The dining center was chosen because it is a place where students are naturally at, Widergren said.

The familiar setting gives students a better opportunity to talk to police since they do not have to go anywhere or call anyone, Widergren added.

Woodruff said he wants the community to feel they can always call on them and communicate with them.

Woodruff has not heard any negative feedback or major concerns from students in previous events. He said he would like to continue to do these types of events in the future.

The dinner costs one meal swipe for meal plan holders and $10 for non-meal plan holders.