ROWAN UNIVERSITY POLICY

Title: General Safety and Security

Subject: Public Safety

Policy No: DPS: 2015:

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03

Applies: University-Wide

Issuing Authority: President

Responsible Officer: Assistant Vice President of Public Safety

Adopted:

Amended:

Last Revision: 12/14/2015

I. PURPOSE

The policy sets forth policies and procedures that will assist in preventing personal injuries and losses when possible and providing support where such incidents occur. This policy also sets forth policies and procedures associated with campus law enforcement and security.

II. ACCOUNTABILITY

Under the direction of the President, the Assistant Vice President of the Department of Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management, shall implement this policy and ensure compliance.

III. APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to all Rowan University faculty, staff, students, and visitors to all Rowan University campuses.

IV. REFERENCE

1. Rowan University Department of Public Safety Mission and Values Statement is available on Public Safety's website. 

V. POLICY

1.  The mission of Rowan University Department of Public Safety is to enhance the quality of life by providing a secure and safe environment through professional service to the University community.
2.  The Rowan University Department of Public Safety is a professional law enforcement agency, dedicated and privileged to serve the University community with efficient, fair, and high quality law enforcement response. The Department's mission focuses on:
1. Protecting life and property.
2. Preventing crime, reducing the fear of crime, and apprehending those who violate the law.
3. Providing the Rowan community with public service in the form of citizen education, career days, volunteer-in-community programs, supporting charitable organizations, fingerprint programs and other programs that benefit the community.
4. Working cooperatively with the public, other law enforcement agencies and governmental agencies, officers should strive to improve the quality of life for all residents and visitors to Rowan University.
3.  Department Organization
    The Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management manages the Public Safety Department. The day to day operations are under the direction of the Senior Director of Public Safety. The Department provides services to the University community through its six service sections, which include:
1. The University's police officers provide law enforcement, investigative, and victim assistance services.
2. The University's uniformed security officers provide 24-hour patrol services using vehicle, bicycle, and foot patrols. The Operation Lieutenants of Public Safety manage patrol services and special events on the Glassboro and Stratford campus and the Chief of Security manages Camden campuses.
3. The Lieutenants manage the Crime Prevention & Communications Section which provides crime prevention programs, presentations, and related services.
4. The Department also manages the campus parking program and assigns space for special events parking.
5. The Director of Emergency Management is responsible for emergency management and section operations.
6. The Chief of Security manages the volunteer student Emergency Medical Services ambulance squad on the Glassboro campus.
4.  Calling for Assistance
1. The Public Safety services can be requested at any time by calling the Rowan University Department of Public Safety Communications Center. For emergencies, call 856-256-4911. For non-emergencies, call 856-256-4922. The Rowan University community is also encouraged to use the Code Blue Emergency Telephones to report emergencies, suspicious conditions, or for a walking safety escort.
2. Anyone who witnesses or is victim of a crime should report the incident immediately to any officer, by calling the Public Safety Communications Center at 856-256-4911 or using a Code Blue Emergency phone. When a crime is reported, the officer to whom you are reporting the crime will need to obtain your name, address, telephone number, and any information that you have about the crime. A written statement may be needed.
3. The responding officer will investigate or a detective if applicable for every crime that is reported. Officers will make every attempt to identify and apprehend a suspect. Copies of investigations may be shared with the Glassboro Police Department or other law enforcement agencies.
4. If you have been the victim of a crime and a suspect has been identified, you have the right to sign a criminal complaint. Complaints may be signed at the Department of Public Safety Department and/or the appropriate law enforcement agency.
5.  Bomb Threats 
1. The University takes all threats seriously. Each threat is evaluated by appropriate members of the University's administration and appropriate action initiated. Any person or department that receives a threat or suspicious item should call Public Safety's Emergency Line 856-256-4911 immediately to report the situation.
2. The person who receives the call or item should try to make note of:
1. The time the call or item is received.
2. The telephone number the call is received from, if shown on the phone display or known.
3. The exact message given by the caller, including any location, or times that an event might occur.
4. Any distinctive characteristics about the caller's voice, background noises, etc. that might aid in identifying the caller.
5. In the case of an item, the way it was received, and any identifying information from the sender or its source.
6.  The Department of Public Safety offers many services to the campus community, including: 
1. Escorts, opening of doors, and opening of vehicles.
2. Parking event assistance, building security, and security for special events.
3. Operating a Lost and Found.
4. Responding immediately to fire alarms, requests for emergency medical services, reports of motor vehicle accidents, and to all emergency service calls.
5. Delivering emergency messages.
6. Requests for emergency maintenance repairs.
7. For Faculty, staff or administration needing to gain access to buildings after hours.
7.  Crime Prevention
    Rowan University seeks to maintain a safe campus environment through the establishment of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) standards. New campus campus  construction must comply with these standards, and existing areas of the campus are addressed each year. The University's major CPTED initiatives have included lighting improvements, landscape adjustments, security fencing, and establishment of Code Blue Emergency Phones.

VI. ATTACHMENTS

1. Attachment I1, Bomb Threats
2. Attachment II2, Crime Prevention
3. Attachment III3, Security Services

ATTACHMENT

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1

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BOMB THREATS

1. The University takes all threats seriously. Each threat is evaluated by appropriate members of the University's administration and appropriate action initiated. Any person or department that receives a threat or suspicious item should call Public Safety's Emergency Line 856-256-4911 immediately to report the situation. The person who receives the call or item should try to make note of:
1. The time the call or item is received.
2. The telephone number the call is received from, if shown on the phone display or known.
3. The exact message given by the caller, including any location, or times that an event might occur.
4. Any distinctive characteristics about the caller's voice, background noises, etc. that might aid in identifying the caller.
5. In the case of an item, the way it was received, and any identifying information from the sender or its source.
2. If or when evacuation of a building is necessary, uniformed Public Safety Officers, or command/staff with appropriate identification badges will initiate evacuation by text alerts, voice message, public address system or by use of a fire alarm. If a fire alarm is used, everyone is to follow the university's fire emergency plan/decal instructions.
3.  When evacuation is ordered, everyone should take any small, necessary personal items with him or her. For example: coats or outer garments to deal with inclement weather conditions that may exist; keys; wallets; ID and driver's licenses; purses; briefcases; back packs; laptops, cell phones, medications, etc. since they will not be allowed back into the building for an extended period of time. Please remember that action should not delay a prompt evacuation of the building/facility.
    

 ATTACHMENT

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CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES

1. Our Public Safety department can function effectively with the assistance and cooperation of concerned and responsible members of the academic community. The department depends upon the community to call and alert the department whenever they observe suspicious persons or activities. The department encourages the entire community to practice crime prevention every day. To request crime prevention services call 856-256-4922.

2. Each fall, the Crime Prevention section conducts an evening tour of the campus to identify areas needing improvement. The University community is encouraged to participate by calling Crime Prevention at 856-256-4922. 
3. Crime Prevention Services
    Upon request, the Crime Prevention Officer will come to your location and engrave property such as computers, printers, typewriters and answering machines. It is our experience that property, which is visibly engraved, is less a target of theft and, if stolen, more easily recovered and returned to you. Crime Prevention also has security programs designed to help you protect cars, bicycles, motorcycles, textbooks, computers, and other possessions. Crime Prevention strongly encourages special education presentations for students, faculty and staff. These presentations can be delivered at any time of the day or night by calling 856-256-4922.
4. Crime Prevention Surveys
    Upon request, the Crime Prevention Officer will conduct security surveys to identify potential compromises to the security of the surveyed area. A written evaluation, with recommendations for improvement will be provided to the person who made the request. Should the recommendation indicate the need for services from other on-campus departments to rectify concerns, that request must emanate from the individual for whom the survey was done.
5. Student Patrol Program
    The Departments of Public Safety and Law and Justice co-sponsor the Student Patrol Program. This innovative program provides trained students to patrol the campus on a nightly basis during the academic year. They oversee their assigned sections and help to ensure they are safe and secure. Student Patrol also promotes good crime prevention practice, and they deliver peer programming to their assigned buildings and areas if applicable. A team of two students provides walking safety escorts to the university community each evening during the Fall and Spring semester. Student Patrol services can be requested for an evening safety escort, call the Communications Center at 856-256-4922.
    

ATTACHMENT

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SECURITY SERVICES

The Department of Public Safety offers many services to the campus community. A description of each is as follows:

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