A scanning of the past few semester’s crime reports indicate that drug violations are becoming a larger problem at the Monongahela Wharf at the edge of Point Park’s campus.

For the year 2016, crime reports recorded one drug violation total at the Monongahela Wharf. Only one month into the spring 2017 semester, there have already been two documented drug violations at the wharf.

According to Lt. Nicholas Black of the Point Park Police department, Allegheny County park rangers and officers from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission are the ones who initially encountered the offending students.

“The [Point Park] officers maintain their designated patrol areas,” Black said. “This week was just an unfortunate week.”

Black has not personally seen an increase of Point Park students at the Monongahela Wharf, but attributes much of students’ increased presence to mild weather.

According to the university’s 2016 crime report, the primary area of jurisdiction the Point Park Police department patrols extends from Fort Pitt Blvd. north to Forbes Ave. and from Smithfield St. to Stanwix St.

The report states the Point Park Police also patrols the “surrounding areas” which includes the wharf, but the wharf is not a part of Point Park’s campus.

With that in mind, Point Park Police Chief Jeffrey Besong said that Public Safety does not encourage students to linger on the wharf, especially at night.

“We strongly discourage [students] from hanging out down there,” Besong said via email.

Faith Flanders, 19, said she was stopped last semester by Pittsburgh police and was let go after her friend’s paraphernalia was confiscated. Flanders said she has been absent from the wharf ever since because she feels unsafe and fears losing her scholarship over an incident.

“Now that a few people have been getting caught, they’re not going to have as much sympathy for people down there anymore,” Flanders said. “You’re probably not going to be as lucky as I was and get off with just a verbal warning.”

Students and the office of Public Safety said that a budding homeless population have been of large concern. Many homeless reside at the wharf during the colder months and some permanently live there.

Robert Bianco, 19, is a frequent wharf visitor; he takes advantage of the open space for skateboarding. When asked if he had noticed an increase in patrolling of the Monongahela Wharf, he nodded his head yes.

“I have; I think it’s the homeless people down there, because there have been a lot of overdoses down there recently,” Bianco said. “I see a lot of cops just sitting down there recently. It’s weird.”

Black said the isolation of the wharf contributes to an overall dangerous atmosphere.

“It is frequented at times by drug users or homeless, and that could lead to thefts and robberies,” Black said.

Correction: an earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed the statement “Although it may be populated largely during the day, the danger begins when the cars start to file out after the work day is done.” to Chief of Police Jeffrey Besong.