The Department of Public Safety (DPS), Columbus Division of Police (CPD) and City of Columbus representatives took part in the Undergraduate Student Government’s Safety Town Hall April 12 in the Ohio Union. The panel discussion focused on a range of safety topics including Buckeye Alerts and the Student Safety Service Safe Ride program. Participants from DPS included OSUPD Acting Chief Craig Stone and Director of Emergency Management and Fire Prevention Bob Armstrong.
Armstrong explained to attendees the difference between Buckeye Alerts and Public Safety notices, and he emphasized that safety is the university’s top priority. Armstrong also touched on how DPS has invested in new technology to enhance the Buckeye Alert notification process. The system enables dispatchers to send a Buckeye Alert with the simple push of a button, if and when they learn of an imminent threat to the safety of the campus community. For more information about the university’s alert system, visit our alert notices webpage.
Acting Chief Stone shared that OSU Police works together with CPD to enhance safety both on and around campus. CPD and OSUPD have a renewed mutual aid agreement that allows for mutual assistance to enhance safety. A joint jurisdiction agreement allows officers more flexibility and more opportunity to respond to and deter crimes on and around campus.
Student Safety Service Program Coordinator Sean Bolender also addressed student questions related to wait times for the Safe Ride program. The Safe Ride program delivered more than 18,000 rides in the past year and fulfills 96 percent of caller requests. Service is offered to the campus community from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., but Bolender suggested that students schedule rides in advance if they know ahead of time they’ll require the service during peak hours. Visit our Student Safety Service Safe Ride webpage to learn more.
Members of the campus community are reminded to contact OSU Police at 614-292-2121 for safety-related issues on campus. Always call 911 in an emergency.