Walking Around Campus

Walking around campus
  • Familiarize yourself with the layout of the campus.
    • Survey the campus while classes are in session and after dark to see that academic buildings, walkways, facilities, and parking lots are adequately secured and well-lighted.
  • Plan the safest route to your destination.
    • Choose well-lighted, busy pathways and streets.
  • Share your class schedule with your parents and trusted friends and give them your telephone numbers.
  • At night:
    • Stick to well-lighted areas whenever possible and avoid alleyways or short cuts” through isolated areas.
    • Travel in groups and avoid going out alone at night.
    • Use the campus escort or shuttle services at night.
  • Know where the emergency call boxes are located on campus and learn how to use them.
  • If you are being followed:
    • Change direction and go to the nearest business or home;
    • Knock on the door, and request that someone call the Police.
    • Note the description of the person following you.
  • Walk near the curb and avoid shrubbery or other places of potential concealment.
  • Tell a friend or roommate where you are going and what time you expect to return.
  • Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
  • Carry your purse close to your body and keep a firm grip on it; carry your wallet in an inside coat pocket or your front pant pocket.
  • Keep your keys separate from your purse or backpack.
  • Don’t overload yourself with bags or packages and avoid wearing shoes that restrict your movements.
  • Walk with a confident stride; keep your head up and look around.
  • If a motorist stops and asks for directions, keep your distance from the car.
On foot
  • Avoid dark, vacant, or deserted areas; use well-lit routes.
  • Avoid walking/jogging/running alone, especially at night. Ask a friend to go with you. Call Public Safety to accompany you around campus during evening hours.
  • Dress in clothes and shoes that will not hamper movement.
  • Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
    • Avoid wearing headsets that impair your ability to detect and respond to potentially dangerous situations.
  • Report suspicious activity or noises immediately.
  • Carry a noise-making device with you at all times, and use it if you suspect you are in danger.
    • Move to a lit area or building and raise a commotion.
    • Call 911 or activate a blue light emergency phone in the event of an emergency.
Everyday Living
  • Take a self-defense course.
    • If female, see if a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course is offered.
  • Keep emergency numbers near your phone.
    • Better yet; remember them!
  • Lock all doors and windows every time you leave your room/apartment/home, even if you plan to be gone for just a minute.
  • Keep house and car keys on separate rings.
  • Do not lend your keys to service/maintenance people you do not know well.
  • Always ask service/maintenance people to identify themselves before allowing them to enter your room/apartment/home.
  • Get to know your neighbors so you can help each other.
  • Do not keep large sums of money, jewelry, or valuable items in plain view in your room/apartment/home.
  • When out of town, set radios, lights, and televisions on timers.
  • Try to avoid entering elevators occupied by strangers.
    • If you are waiting for an elevator with a stranger, stand away from the door to avoid being pushed inside.
    • Get off on the next floor if you feel uneasy.
    • Hit the alarm button if you are accosted on an elevator.
  • Report any broken or malfunctioning locks to the facilities department.

If you live off campus

  • Do not put your name on the outside of your residence mailbox and do not leave notes on outside doors.
  • Leave spare keys with trusted neighbors.
    • Do not leave keys under a doormat or in a flower planter.
Considering Moving Off-Campus?
  • How safe will your commute be to campus (escort service, shuttle service, etc.)?
  • Do security/police patrol the grounds/buildings?
  • Is an intercom system used or are peep holes installed in doors?
  • Are there emergency phones?
  • Are adjacent properties maintained?
  • How secure are the locks/doors?
  • How often are the locks changed?
  • Are there dead bolt locks on the exterior doors?
  • Is the parking adequate and safe?
  • Are there secluded or dark areas near the buildings?
  • Is there a Neighborhood Watch program?
  • Is there an adequate fire safety detection and evacuation system in place?
If you sense trouble
  • Move away from the potential threat if possible.
    • Cross the street and increase your pace.
    • Join a group of people nearby.
  • If a threatening situation is imminent and people are close by, yell, scream or do whatever you can to get their attention.
  • Remember, dialing 911 and or/activating a fire alarm are both part of the personal safety system.
    • 911 calls are free from most pay phones, and blue light emergency phones are usually located in many areas on campus and simply require a push of a button to notify emergency services of your situation.
  • If you are facing an armed criminal, you may minimize the risk of injury to yourself if you comply with the criminal's demands.
    • However, if your life is in immediate danger, use any defense you can to get away.
  • Dial 911 immediately and give a description of the suspect.
Safe Parking & Approaching Your Car
Transition between walking and driving
  • Situational Awareness: Before leaving a store or your house, look outside to scan your surroundings and note what is happening around you.
  • Smart Parking: Park in highly visible, well-lighted areas that will still be lit when you return to your vehicle. Avoid parking directly next to large vans or trucks that block visibility.
  • Keys Ready: Always have your vehicle keys out and ready in your hand as you approach, allowing you to enter without delay.
  • Interior Scan: Look into the back seat and check around/under the vehicle before unlocking the doors or getting inside.

Active Shooter (Workplace Violence)

Shooter Enters Area
If you are involved in a situation where someone has entered the area and started shooting; the following are a list of actions that are recommended:

If possible exit the building/area immediately, but only if it can be done safely.

Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately.

Notify Public Safety or Police.

Give the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your phone number
  • Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
  • Number of shooters
  • Identification of shooter
  • Number of persons who may be involved
  • Your location
No Exit?
If exiting the building/area is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

Go to the nearest room or office.

Close and lock the door.

  • If unable to lock the door, use a wedge device or heavy furniture to block the door; a belt or other objects may be able to wedge the door shut.
  • Cover the door windows.
  • Depending upon the shooters location, exit out the window quietly and quickly.
  • Stay low, move away from the door, keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room.
  • DO NOT answer the door.
Notify the Public Safety or Police.
  • Provide information as needed.
  • Wait for the Police to assist your exit from the building.
  • Follow all instructions by police officers
  • Police may not know if the shooter is hiding among you, therefore police may search you and your belongings and/or do other thing for everyone's safety.
Trapped With Shooter?
If you are trapped with the shooter, you need to decide whether to:
  • Stay still and play dead.
  • Run for an exit in a zigzagging pattern, or
  • Attack the shooter.
Keeping kids safe
  • Teach kids how to use the telephone for emergencies.
  • Help kids memorize important phone numbers.
  • Teach kids to not talk or play with someone they don’t know.
  • Teach kids to not accept a ride or gifts from someone they don’t know.
  • Make sure your kids know where to go for an emergency.
  • Instruct your kids to tell you if anyone touches or speaks to them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Know where your kids are, who they are with, and when they will be back.
  • Enroll your kids in a first aid or babysitting course.

 

Describing a Suspect or Vehicle

Describing a suspect or a vehicle
  • Date
  • Time
  • Location
  • Direction of Travel
 
Weapon
Suspect Information
  • Male/Female
  • Adult/Juvenile/Approximate Age
  • Race
  • Height/Weight
  • Hair Color
  • Eye Color
  • Mustache, beard, sideburns or other facial hair
  • Tattoos, scars or other identifying marks
  • Gait, limp or amputations
 
Clothing
  • Hat
  • Glasses
  • Shirt type/color
  • Pants type/color
  • Shoes
Automobile Information
  • Make/Model
  • Color
  • Year
  • Body style (2-door, 4-door, convertible, truck, etc.)
  • License plate number
  • Distinguishing features (spoiler, racing stripes, tinting, damage, etc.)

Vandalism & Graffiti

Graffiti is Vandalism
  • Report all vandalism and graffiti immediately.
  • In addition to being illegal and costly, much vandalism and graffiti may also be bias, hate or gang related.
Signs of Vandalism
  • Walls covered in graffiti
  • Lrashcans, mailboxes, and other items knocked-over 
  • Street lights broken
  • Street signs missing or sprayed with paint 
  • Public telephones broken or painted
  • Public spaces with broken doors and graffiti
The True Cost of Vandalism and Graffiti

Vandalism and graffiti are far from victimless crimes. Beyond the immediate visual damage, they inflict significant financial and emotional costs on our entire community:

  • Financial Strain on Taxpayers: Defacing public property forces local government and transit agencies to divert precious tax dollars and resources away from community programs, parks, and infrastructure updates just to cover the high costs of cleanup and repairs.
  • Economic Impact on Local Businesses: For small business owners, removing graffiti and repairing property damage can be financially devastating. These unexpected expenses often lead to increased insurance premiums and can force businesses to raise prices, directly impacting local consumers.
  • Decreased Property Values: Pervasive property damage creates a visual decline that can lower property values across an entire neighborhood, making it harder for residents to sell homes or attract positive investment.
  • Undermining Community Safety: When graffiti and property destruction are left unaddressed, it diminishes residents' sense of safety and pride in their neighborhood. Furthermore, much of this activity can be tied to illicit behavior, including bias-motivated incidents, hate speech, or gang-related activity.

Take Action

You can help protect our community. Report all vandalism and graffiti immediately to law enforcement to ensure swift removal and help keep our neighborhoods safe, welcoming, and vibrant.

Using Public Transportation

Workplace Safety Protocols

  • Share Your Schedule: If working late, tell someone your location and expected exit time, or arrange to work alongside a colleague.

  • Secure Personal Valuables: Keep your wallet, purse, cash, and checkbooks locked inside a secure desk drawer or filing cabinet at all times.

  • Verify Office Strangers: Politely ask unfamiliar visitors who they are looking for and help guide them. Report any suspicious behavior to campus security or the police.

  • Check Vendor IDs: Always verify the badges or work orders of any maintenance, cleaning, or repair personnel before letting them enter your workspace.

  • Display Identification: Wear your employee or campus ID badge visibly at all times if required by your organization.

  • Avoid Isolated Areas: Use caution in poorly lit or isolated restrooms, stairwells, and elevators, or use the buddy system.

  • Know Evacuation Paths: Memorize your building's emergency evacuation routes and keep emergency phone numbers posted visibly by your desk.

Office Equipment Security

Log Serial Numbers: Record the brand, serial numbers, and physical descriptions of all office electronics and personal valuables. Store a duplicate copy and photos of these items in a separate location.

Engrave Valuable Property: Ensure all organization property is properly asset-tagged. For personal equipment, permanently engrave your identification details on the chassis to assist in theft recovery.