Campus police will increase security at night following the campus sexual assault of a female student Tuesday, according to a campuswide e-mail sent by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Don Mills on Wednesday.

TCU Police Lt. Abad Ramiro said the increased security would last as long as university officials think it is needed and could result in some officers being asked to work overtime.

“This is something that’s a high-priority-type deal,” Ramiro said. “It’s just about the safety of the students.”

TCU Police Chief Steve McGee said there are typically three to five officers on duty at night, but that would increase. The exact number will vary from night to night.

The increase in officers started Tuesday night after the victim reported the assault. McGee said he held the whole evening shift overnight Tuesday, putting twice as many officers as normal on duty.

“We’re going to (keep extra officers) until we make a break in the case,” he said. “We will look at it every week, review and make sure that we tweak it where we’re getting the best amount of coverage.”

The assailant threatened the student with a knife while she was out walking on campus, McGee said.

The assault was the third involving a student since Aug. 30. McGee said the first two assaults were acquaintance rapes. According to campus crime statistics, one forcible sex offense was reported in 2008, two in 2007 and five in 2006. An Oct. 8 Skiff article incorrectly reported those numbers to be twice those figures each year.

According to the campuswide e-mail, the assault was reported at about 9 p.m. Police described the suspect as a tall white man in his early 20s with straight blond hair and moles on the right side of his face.

“TCU is focused on providing the female student assistance through its victim advocate program and assisting the Fort Worth Police Department with the investigation,” according to a university statement. “The university also is keeping the campus informed, reminding everyone to take steps to ensure their safety, and continues its comprehensive program of ongoing education and training related to sexual assault prevention.”

According to the statement, the Fort Worth Police Department would lead the investigation and would be assisted by TCU Campus Police.

The Fort Worth Police Department dispatched an officer to John Peter Smith Hospital just after 10 p.m. in response to a campus police officer bringing in a woman who had been assaulted, according to a police report.

Sgt. Chad Mahaffey, spokesman for Fort Worth Police, did not return calls seeking further detail.

TCU Police Sgt. Kelly Ham said he could not comment on the case because it was an ongoing investigation.

The university will offer an additional Rape, Aggression and Defense (RAD) class in October because the one scheduled for November is full, according to a campuswide e-mail from TCU Police Officer Pam Christian. The classes, which are two-day workshops, will be on Oct.24-25 and on Nov. 7-8.

Rape, Aggression and Defense Classes

When: 1-7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 25 (the Nov. 7-8 class is full)

Where: Classroom No. 44 in the recreational sports building on day No. 1 of each session and classroom No. 37 in the building on day No. 2

Participants must be able to attend both days of the course to take the class.