Author Archives: Madeline Sloan

Crime Prevention Update September 8, 2016

Happy September! That means one thing- National Campus Safety Awareness Month. Keep an eye out for emails for upcoming events. In the meantime, here are a few things to pass along from the Department:

On September 15th, the Student Government Association will be hosting the annual bike auction. The bike auction will be held on George Street from 11am-2pm. Representatives from Public Safety will be on scene to register bicycles.

The safety and security of the campus is a community effort. Please continue to stay observant and report any suspicious activity you may see to Public Safety. Remember, you can report any non-emergency anonymously by calling the Crime Action Line (843)953-4998 or by filling out a Silent Witness form on our website.

As a member of the College of Charleston community, it is important to familiarize yourself with local laws. The Charleston Police Department enforces several city ordinances on campus and in the surrounding areas.
- The Bicycle Parking Ordinance aims to keep sidewalks clear and safe by prohibiting locking bicycles to light poles, parking meters, signs, etc. Check out this interactive map to see where you can safely and legally secure your bike. You may also secure your bicycle to any bike rack on campus. The Department of Public Safety recommends using a u-lock rather than a cable or chain lock.
- The Skateboard Ordinance regulates the operation of skateboards and designates which streets you can and cannot skateboard on. You can view the restricted streets on this skateboard use map. Whether you are on a bicycle or skateboard, remember to abide all traffic laws, use appropriate hand signals, and keep to the right side of the road.
- The Noise Ordinance is in place to protect the quality of life of Charleston City’s residents and visitors. The ordinance prohibits “clamorous singing, yelling, shouting, whooping, bellowing, hollering, or other loud, obstreperous, wanton and unnecessary noises” in addition to operating a vehicle in a way that emits excessive noise. The ordinance also restricts playing loud music, specifically between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am.
- As a reminder, College of Charleston Public Safety officers will continue to enforce bicycle and skateboard ordinances. More information on these ordinances can be found on our website.

Do you have concerns about a student’s possible substance abuse, mental health, or worrisome/disruptive behavior? FAST is an online reporting tool available to facilitate reporting concerns about students so that specialized College staff may better provide help to students who are having academic, financial, or personal problems that will keep them from succeeding at the College. To make a referral using the FAST reporting system, please click here. Please be aware that the FAST system is not an emergency hotline. For an on-campus emergency, please call Public Safety.

As part of September’s National Campus Safety Awareness Month, Public Safety will be hosting several town hall meetings for the campus community. This is a great opportunity to meet your Public Safety officers, ask questions, and share suggestions, comments, and concerns. As always, I encourage you to actively participate in safety and security around campus, so I anticipate a good turnout! All sessions will be held in Stern Center room 206. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Below are the date and times for the town hall meetings:
- 9/12/16 10am Faculty/Staff session
- 9/26/16 2:30pm Student session

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Use good judgement and maintain awareness of your surroundings when attending social events. If at any point, you or a friend feels disoriented or unusually intoxicated from what you have consumed, leave the bar or party immediately. Get medical help if necessary. Read the Good Samaritan/Medical Amnesty policy here.The policy grants conditional amnesty from any student conduct action to students needing help or requesting medical assistance on another student’s behalf for an alcohol or drug problem.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

National Campus Safety Awareness Month (week 1)

The Department of Public Safety, in partnership with Residence Life, Student Life, Counseling and Substance Abuse, Victim Services, Emergency Management, Community Relations, and the Office of the Dean of Students, is proud to sponsor National Campus Safety Awareness Month throughout the month of September. This month long campaign is intended to raise awareness of particular issues affecting campuses throughout the nation. We have lined up numerous programs, demonstrations, and information sessions throughout the month to bring awareness to these issues and other aspects of campus safety.

As we kick off National Campus Safety Awareness Month, we hope that you will be able to attend the events that have been lined up. The following events will be held during the first week of September. Please stay tuned for weekly updates.

September 7th

Breakfast with Public Safety

Public Safety officers will be on Cougar Mall at 8:30am handing out bagels and coffee. Stop by to meet the officers, ask questions, or just say hello.

Town Hall Meeting (Students)

As part of September’s National Campus Safety Awareness Month, Public Safety will host several town hall meetings for the campus community. This is a great opportunity to meet your Public Safety officers, ask questions, and share suggestions, comments, and concerns. Campus community members are always encouraged to actively participate in safety and security around campus. This session, open to students only, will be held at 11am in Stern 206. Light refreshments and snacks will be served.

September 8^th

Active Shooter Response Training

The Department of Public Safety will be offering training on how to respond if you are encountered with an active shooter. This 30 minute presentation will cover: the definition of an active shooter; statistical realities behind active shooter incidents; how to identify concerning or suspicious behavior; reporting methods; main options for civilian self-defense; and what to do when law enforcement arrives on scene. This training is open to all students, faculty, and staff. This will be held in Stern 201 at 10:30am.

Look for weekly e-mails with updates as to what programs and activities are being offered in the coming weeks. Until then, please visit the National Campus Safety Awareness Month website for more information. You can also check out our full calendar of events here.

Crime Prevention Update August 25, 2016

Good Morning Campus Community,

With the academic year in full swing, the campus is alive once again. A warm welcome to all of our students, faculty, and staff who are new to campus, or are returning after a summer hiatus. As we kick-off the fall semester, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

Most of you have probably seen information sent from Public Safety titled, “Timely Warning.” What exactly are these notifications and how are they different from a Cougar Alert?
- Timely Warning- Narrow focus on Clery crimes. Timely warnings are triggered by crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat. A Timely Warning is issued for any Clery crime committed in Clery geography that is reported to campus security authorities or a local law enforcement agency and is considered by the institution to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees. Warnings are issued as soon as the pertinent information is available.
- Cougar Alert- Wide focus on any significant emergency or dangerous situation (may include Clery crimes). An emergency notification is triggered by an event that is currently occurring on or imminently threatening the campus. Emergency notification procedures are initiated for any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus.
Bicyclists and skateboarders, please take a moment to review the bicycle and skateboard laws. Public Safety Officers will be issuing citations to bicyclists and skateboarders violating the City of Charleston’s bicycle and skateboard regulations. This includes: riding on a sidewalk, traveling the wrong way down a one way street, disregarding traffic control devices, etc. As a reminder, bicyclists and skateboarders should ride with the flow of traffic, and follow all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles. A copy of the Skateboard Ordinance and bicycle guidelines can be picked up at Public Safety Headquarters. If you would like additional information, feel free to contact me.

With the increased activity on campus, many of you may be on campus more frequently, or traveling to and from campus buildings later than usual. In your travels, please consider the following risk reduction strategies:
- Avoid walking alone; it is best to walk in pairs or with a group.
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Listening to music through headphones or looking down at a cell phone can impede your ability to be alert.
- Walk on well-lit paths in heavily traveled routes. Using dark and isolated areas make you a more vulnerable target. Please take a moment to review our campus night map.

Use your resources! Public Safety provides safety escorts on campus 24/7. In addition, the Cougar Shuttle is available 7 days a week from 11pm-3am.

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Recently, there have been reports of pickpocketers targeting bars and restaurants in the area of upper King Street. The two suspects primarily target cell phones from purses. Use a purse that is difficult to open. A purse with a zipper or snaps is best. If you are carrying a shoulder bag, place the strap(s) diagonally across your body, as opposed to carrying it on one shoulder. This keeps the purse in front of you, instead of at your side or behind you, which sometimes happens with purses with long straps. If you are carrying a hand bag, then make sure to hold it close to the front of your body, instead of holding it on your wrist or loosely in your hand.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Crime Prevention Update Aug 11, 2016

I’m sure everyone is staying busy making final preparations for the return of our students. As we anticipate the increased activity on campus, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

Bicyclists and skateboarders, please take a moment to review the bicycle and skateboard laws. Public Safety Officers will be issuing citations to bicyclists and skateboarders violating the City of Charleston’s bicycle and skateboard regulations. This includes: riding on a sidewalk, traveling the wrong way down a one way street, disregarding traffic control devices, etc. As a reminder, bicyclists and skateboarders should ride with the flow of traffic, and follow all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles. A copy of the Skateboard Ordinance and bicycle guidelines can be picked up at Public Safety Headquarters. If you would like additional information, feel free to contact me.

National Campus Safety Awareness Month is in September. Throughout the month, the Department of Public Safety will be hosting several programs and events to promote general health and safety on campus. Please stay tuned for additional information to come.

The Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and Student Government Association, is in the process of implementing the new bicycle parking system in the area of the Bell Building, McAlister Residence Hall, and Berry Residence Hall. If you park your bicycle in this area, please familiarize yourself with these assignments. Please direct any questions to Craig Bennett at cabennet1@cofc.edu.

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Upon returning from vacation, BEFORE you go in the house, do a quick walk-around and make sure you don’t see any windows or doors broken or anything else wrong. If you do see where someone may have entered you home DO NOT GO IN! Back away and call 911. Wait for police to arrive and clear the interior for your safety.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Crime Prevention Update July 28, 2016

With August just around the corner, the campus has been bustling as we all prepare for the return of our students. As July comes to a close, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

Mopeds are being stolen at an alarming pace in the low-country. Please take appropriate measures to protect your personal property. Here are some tips to prevent you from becoming the next victim.
Most of you have probably seen information sent from Public Safety titled, “Timely Warning.” What exactly are these notifications and how are they different from a Cougar Alert?

Timely Warning– Narrow focus on Clery crimes. Timely warnings are triggered by crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat. A Timely Warning is issued for any Clery crime committed in Clery geography that is reported to campus security authorities or a local law enforcement agency and is considered by the institution to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees. Warnings are issued as soon as the pertinent information is available.
Cougar Alert– Wide focus on any significant emergency or dangerous situation (may include Clery crimes). An emergency notification is triggered by an event that is currently occurring on or imminently threatening the campus. Emergency notification procedures are initiated for any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus.

The Department of Public Safety will be offering training on how to respond if you are encountered with an active shooter. We are available to attend staff meetings, student organization meetings, classes, etc. This 45 minute presentation will cover: the definition of an active shooter; statistical realities behind active shooter incidents; how to identify concerning or suspicious behavior; reporting methods; main options for civilian self-defense; and what to do when law enforcement arrives on scene. This training is open to all students, faculty, and staff. More information can be found on our webpage.

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Many of us have seen recent news articles surrounding safety concerns about the Pokémon Go App. Before downloading the app or planning your next outing, please take a moment to review these safety tips.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Moped Theft Prevention

The following information on preventing moped theft was recently released from the Charleston Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit:

Mopeds are being stolen at an alarming pace in the low-country. Here are some tips to prevent you from becoming the next victim.

Hide or disguise it.

The less your moped/scooter is seen, the less likely a thief will notice it. If you don’t have a

garage, keep it covered. Not knowing what’s underneath makes it harder to assess the

difficulty of stealing it, or even to know if it’s even a bike they want. In motorcycle terms, by

putting a BMW cover on your Harley, you can also create the impression that it is a bike that is

less likely to be stolen than what it actually is.

First lock to ALWAYS use.

Although readily defeated, your bike’s steering lock can be a first-step defense and will

discourage easy maneuvering of the bike. It is even more useful if your ignition and steering

locks are separate, so the thief needs to defeat two locks to escape with your scooter. Many

local mopeds have been stolen because they ONLY used an ignition lock (see next item).

Add some more Locks

It’s best to use two or more locks of different types in addition to your bike’s built-in lock(s).

Unless a thief has conducted surveillance on your bike, he probably won’t be prepared to

tackle different kinds of locks. And if one of them anchors the bike to something immovable, a

gang won’t be able to carry it to a truck. (remember though, it is unlawful to attach to a Bike Rack,

fence, parking meter, or utility pole downtown)

Keep It Up

Whatever lock you use; don’t rest it on the ground where the thief is more likely to be able to

get enough leverage to break it. If you attach to lock up and away from the ground, the thief

probably won’t get that extra leverage to pry the lock. The lock should be attached through

the frame, or less desirably through the forks or wheel.

Lock It Down

A disc lock might inconvenience joy-riders, but determined thieves can simply hoist such a bike

into a waiting truck. If you add a cable to it and anchor that to something solid, you have a

more formidable obstacle. Even bikes inside garages should be securely locked.

Don’t be Cheap

Go for the good stuff when shopping for security: Alarmed disc locks, U-locks of hardened

steel and asymmetrical chains (5/8 inches or greater) all rate highly.

Get Sneaky – Additional electronic prevention

If you’re really determined to foil the bad guys, wire up a kill-switch or spring-loaded switch

that must be held down when the start button is depressed. Some riders have foiled

attempted thefts by simply removing the main fuse when they parked their bikes.

Keep them from using Duplicate Keys

Make a record of your key numbers, and then file them off the locks if

they’re stamped on. Anyone with that number can have a key cut to fit.

Park in lit areas

If you park outside; choose a well-lit, conspicuous area. If you can’t lock your bike to

something solid and stationary, try another bike (preferably not one belonging to a stranger).

Even plastering your bike with “Alarm Installed” stickers could discourage thieves.

Make Some Noise

Alarms may attract attention to the fact that someone is attempting

to steal your bike. Try additional noise makers at home (ex: a large stack of glass bottles with a trip wire

makes a sound that everyone will investigate when it gets tipped over.)

Watch Your Back

Professional thieves often find the bikes they want to steal (probably because they have

orders for them) by following them to where they are parked during the day or night. Then

they size up the situation and come back with what they need to steal the motorcycle. So, as

you approach your destination, especially if it’s your home, watch your mirrors for several

blocks. If someone seems to be following you, try to lose them, pull over and let them pass

(leaving an escape route in case they are bike-jackers), make a U-turn, or go around the block.

Anyone who continues to follow you is probably trouble. Don’t go home or into your company

or school parking lot until you have shaken them off.

Remove it Or Lose It

Last but not least, remember to remove your cable, disc or U-lock

before riding away.

Fireworks Ordinances and Safety Tips

Happy Fourth of July! The Department of Public Safety would like to remind everyone to celebrate the holiday safely and responsibly. If you are planning on observing Independence Day with fireworks, please take a moment to review the City of Charleston Ordinances and safety tips below.

City of Charleston Ordinances

Sec. 13-191. – Possession, sale, discharge; sparklers excepted

It shall be unlawful for any person to use, fire, shoot, discharge, sell, offer for sale, store, exchange, give away or possess any fireworks within the corporate limits of the city except for use in public display or exhibit under the provisions of section 13-192, except as provided by section 13-193, and except that the provisions of this article shall not include nor prevent the sale, possession, or use of toy cap pistols and toy pistol paper caps which contain not more than twenty hundredths (.20) of a grain of explosive mixture and fireworks known as “sparklers.” The sale, use and possession of such toy cap pistols, toy pistol paper caps and sparklers shall be permitted at all times. (Code 1975, § 24-72)

It shall be lawful for any person to use fireworks and public displays or exhibits provided that such displays or exhibits of fireworks shall be lawful only where the person desiring to give the same shall have first obtained written approval therefor from the chief fire official for the City of Charleston who may in his absolute discretion, grant or refuse to grant the permission so applied for, or may grant the same subject to such restrictions and limitations as he may, in his absolute discretion, deem to be in the interest of public safety in connection with such display or exhibit. (Code 1975, § 24-73; Ord. No. 1993-415, § 1, 11-23-93; Ord. No. 2001-54, § 31, 5-29-01

Sec. 22-5. – Prohibited activities in or upon a public park, park facility, recreational facility, or playground.

Unless permitted under a city special event permit issued pursuant to section 2-185 et seq. of this Code:

(g) Fireworks and weapons. No person shall possess, discharge, or set off any fireworks, firearms, weapons, or other explosive devices in or upon any park or playground, without written approval of the director of the department of recreation or the director of the department of parks. (Ord. No. 2010-111, § 1, 7-20-10; Ord. No. 2015-091, § 1, 7-21-15) (subheadings a-f; h-o omitted for purpose of this article)

Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Crime Prevention Update June 30, 2016

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July. Safe travels to everyone planning a trip for the holiday weekend. Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

The College of Charleston has several resources for the anonymous reporting of criminal activity, serious policy violations, and concerning behavior. You can report any non-emergency to Public Safety anonymously by calling the Crime Action Line (843)953-4998 or by filling out a Silent Witness form on our website. If you are concerned about the well-being of a student, you may submit an anonymous FAST report through the Office of the Dean of Students. FAST forms may be submitted by faculty, staff, and students.

July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month in the United States, when more cars are stolen than any other month. Vehicle theft is a very expensive crime, with the cost of stolen vehicles pegged at more than $4.1 billion. Never leave the vehicle running while unattended. Be sure to park in well-lit areas and avoid leaving valuable property inside your vehicle. Most importantly, always lock your vehicle. Trends in auto thefts indicate that over half of vehicles stolen are left unlocked at the time of theft. More information can be found here.

The Department of Public Safety, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and Student Government Association, is in the process of implementing the new bicycle parking system in the area of the Bell Building, McAlister Residence Hall, and Berry Residence Hall. If you park your bicycle in this area, please familiarize yourself with these assignments. Please direct any questions to Craig Bennet with the Office of Sustainability at cabennet1@cofc.edu.

National Campus Safety Awareness Month is in September. We have several events planned throughout the month. If your campus group or organization would like to team up with Public Safety on hosting a presentation or event, we would be more than happy to collaborate on this initiative. Please contact me at sloanm1@cofc.edu if you plan to participate.

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

Have a fire extinguisher available when grilling or using fireworks during your Fourth of July celebration. It is also suggested to have a bucket of water or a hose available if the fire spreads. When using fireworks make sure the area is free of bushes, dry grass, and holiday decorations to avoid fire.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Crime Prevention Update June 16, 2016

As summer is heating up, so are things around campus. For most of us, this is the time for preparation and planning. Like all of you, we have been working hard to have campus ready while we await the return of our students in the fall. Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Bombing Prevention (OBP) has recently released a video that offers guidance on how to respond if you receive a bomb threat. Please take a moment to review this short production on Public Safety’s webpage. Copies of the Bomb Threat Procedures and Checklist are available at Public Safety Headquarters for your convenience. More information on this topic can be found on the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Bomb Prevention’s website.

Recently, the Department of Public Safety was notified of a possible phone scam in which the caller contacted a campus extension. Although this appears to be an isolated incident, please remain observant when taking calls from unfamiliar numbers. Taking the following precautions can help protect you against fraud:
- Never give out personal information to someone you did not initiate contact with.
- Before signing up for a contest or e-mail distribution list, make sure the business has a policy not to share your information or sell it to a third party.
- Be leery of anyone you did not initiate contact with who asks for payment using a third party such as MoneyGram or GreenDot prepaid cards.
- Scammers count on your lack of knowledge, so take the time to educate yourself about any offer you receive.

Campus Safety Awareness Month is in September. We have several events planned throughout the month. If your campus group or organization would like to team up with Public Safety on hosting a presentation or event, we would be more than happy to collaborate on this initiative. Please contact me with any questions or suggestions.

For those who will remain on campus throughout the summer, please continue to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity you may see to Public Safety. Remember, you can report any non-emergency anonymously by calling the Crime Action Line (843)953-4998 or by filling out a Silent Witness form on our website.

Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.

Crime Prevention Tip:

In any bomb threat situation, check your work area for unfamiliar items. Do not touch suspicious items; report them to Public Safety at (843) 953-5609. Take personal belongings when you leave. Leave doors and windows open and do not turn light switches on or off. Use stairs only; do not use elevators.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Take Care and Be Safe,

PSO Madeline M. Sloan

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Unlikely Residents on CofC Campus

Students and faculty members were in for quite the shock as they attempted to attend their summer classes last week. As they approached the Bell Building, they were greeted by an unlikely guest….

Early last Wednesday morning, just before dawn, night shift officers were conducting their regular patrols through campus. Summer is generally considered a quiet time on most college campuses, so officers were a bit unsettled when they saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back at them. Officer Shawn Buchanan was making his last rounds on patrol when he spotted a large bird perched on the bicycle rack outside of McAlister Residence Hall. “There is nothing like patrolling and coming across this big guy,” Buchanan laughingly recalled. Buchanan joked, “He watched me go by and was like do something…”

Several hours later, as students, faculty, and staff began trickling onto campus for the day, Public Safety started to receive several reports of a large bird sitting outside the entrance to the Bell Building. “We had multiple people come in [to Public Safety] saying that there was a bird blocking the door to the Bell Building,” explained Administrative Specialist, Kim Reetz. “It was quite comical,” Reetz recalled, “Everyone was afraid to enter the building.” Campus community members redirected to the rear entrance in an effort to not disturb the new self-appointed gatekeeper.

Public Safety contacted the Center for Birds of Prey for guidance on how to respond to the campus’ two newest residents. Cynthia Steffens of Birds of Prey arrived to the campus and identified the birds as youth Red-Tailed Hawks. The four week old birds were taken to the center’s medical clinic and evaluated for injuries. Both were determined to be in good health and taken back to the campus. Public Safety officers escorted Ms. Steffens to the roof of the Bell Building to return the young birds to their nest. “We gave them food and waited to see if the parents would accept their offsprings,” Steffens explained. After observing for a short time, the family appeared to be reunited.

Steffens described the birds as branchers, a term ornithologists use to describe young birds who are learning how to fly. “They take short flights and hop around,” Steffens described, “Sometimes they have trouble making it back to the nest.” Steffens has a few pointers for anyone who comes across these birds. “It’s best to leave them alone,” she stated. If you see the birds are struggling to make it back to their nests, contact the Center for Birds of Prey or notify the Department of Public Safety.

So, can we expect to see the young hawks grow up on campus? “Probably not,” Steffens claims. Once the hawks reach adulthood, they often find their own territory and start their own nests. Not to worry campus bird enthusiasts- Steffens explained that the parents will likely maintain their residency on the Bell Building roof. Average life expectancy for Red Tailed Hawks living in the wild is 5 to 7 years, so there is still plenty of time for bird watching.

It is not out of the ordinary for Public Safety Officers to respond to strange scenarios. In most situations where people are unsure what to do, the first thought is to call Public Safety. “Sometimes we receive unusual calls for service,” Chief of Police Robert Reese stated. “That’s what we are here for,” he added.