Campus Safety

Welcome to this month’s Chief’s Brief, a monthly column to let the OSU community know what’s been happening on the campus, where you can meet an officer, find answers to questions about your university police department, and where we offer a monthly safety tip.

We are a month into the spring semester, and I hope everyone had a great break, including our extra break due to the recent winter storm. I want to give a shout-out to the Landscape Services team as they worked to clear the streets and sidewalks. And, of course, I also include our officers who braved the snow and cold to keep the campus safe.

OSUPD has made some upgrades to its technology, adding a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Report Management System (RMS). CAD is a countywide project through the Payne County E-911 Board. This puts all dispatch centers in Payne County on the same system, allowing us to work seamlessly during a major incident. This is a big improvement and makes our campus community safer. 

 

Year-End Calls for Service

OSUPD ended the year with a 3% increase in calls for service but an 11% decrease in case reports. Overall, crime decreased on campus by 4.5%.

We did see a significant increase in thefts — 10% — due to the high number of scooter and bike thefts. I remind everyone to register and lock your scooters, bikes and e-bikes. Report suspicious activity. You can live chat with the OSUPD dispatchers through the Rave Guardian app, including sending them photos. 

 

Upcoming OSUPD Events:

Thursday, Feb 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Student Union Police sub-station (225SU), stop by Cocoa and Conversations. This event is hosted in cooperation with the SGA Accessibility Committee and will focus on making our students safer by giving anyone with an accommodation or medical alert the opportunity to register with our department. Your information will be loaded into our dispatch system, alerting first responders to your accommodation or medical needs. Not only will OSUPD have this, but since it’s loaded into our system, other dispatch centers in the county will get the alert in case of an emergency.

 

Your information will be in a first responder database, protected under federal law and never shared.

 

Safety Tips:  

• As you walk around campus, remember to use crosswalks and pedestrian signaled areas to cross roadways.
• Look both ways before crossing, even if the pedestrian signal clears you to cross.
• At signed crosswalks, Oklahoma law gives the pedestrian the right of way inside the crosswalk, but also states you cannot suddenly leave the curb and enter the crosswalk when the vehicle cannot safely yield.
• Drivers of vehicles need to make sure they are operating vehicles safely and driving the speed limit. Drivers cannot have their cell phones in their hands, but can have the phone connected to their car. Distracted driving is a leading contributor to collisions and preventable harm on our roadways.
• Don’t forget to download the Rave Guardian app from the Apple or Google Play Store. For more information and links to download, visit safety.okstate.edu/safety-resources/rave-guardian.html. 
   

Questions or Suggestions? Email OSUPDCHIEF@okstate.edu. 

 

We will see you around campus. GO POKES!

 

Michael T. Beckner
Chief of Police