Author Archives: Madeline Sloan

Congratulations to all on another successful semester. On behalf of the Department of Public Safety, I hope you and your family have a happy and safe holiday season. As we prepare for winter break, 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.

• For those staying on campus over the winter break, this is a friendly reminder that the Department of Public Safety is available 24/7 to provide safety escorts to all students, faculty, and staff. Tonight (12/17) is the last night the Cougar Shuttle will be running for the fall semester. Normal operating hours will resume on Wednesday January 6, 2016. For more resources and safety tips, please click here.

• Holiday breaks are a vulnerable time for the campus. Thieves take advantage of the decline in foot traffic and overall activity. Please do your part in helping Public Safety protect you personal property over the holiday breaks. If you plan on leaving your bike on campus, it is recommended that you secure it in a highly visible, well-lit area. If you live live in a residence hall that has interior bicycle racks (McAlister, Kelly House), it is recommended that you relocate your bike to that location. Students are highly encouraged to take valuables home with them during the winter break. For faculty and staff who utilize offices, please make sure you are securing your office door. If you have valuables such as phones, laptops, tablets, etc. please consider locking them in a desk drawer, or other secure location.

• As winter break is approaching, now is the time to prepare your residence if you are planning on going out of town for the holiday. For those of you residing in the downtown area, particularly students living in off-campus housing, you can contact the Charleston Police Department ((843) 720-2426) if you would like an officer to keep an eye on your residence while you are away. Any faculty, staff, or students living outside the immediate area are encouraged to call their local police department, as most law enforcement agencies offer this service.

• 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:

Do your part in making your home safe during the holiday season. Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home. When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doors and passageways are clear inside your home. Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons or family pets cannot pull it over on themselves. If you use lights on your Christmas tree ensure the wiring is not damaged or frayed. Frayed or damaged wiring can cause a 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

Good Morning Campus Community,

The holiday season is just around the corner. As you prepare for Thanksgiving break, please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your personal property. Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

• Holiday breaks are a vulnerable time for the campus. Thieves take advantage of the decline in foot traffic and overall activity. Please do your part in helping Public Safety protect you personal property over the holiday breaks. If you plan on leaving your bike on campus, it is recommended that you secure it in a highly visible, well-lit area. If you live live in a residence hall that has interior bicycle racks (McAlister, Kelly House), it is recommended that you relocate you bike to that location. For faculty and staff who utilize offices, please make sure you are securing your office door. If you have valuables such as phones, laptops, tablets, etc. please consider locking them in a desk drawer, or other secure location.

• With finals quickly approaching, and our hours of daylight diminishing earlier, now is an excellent time to review some vital safety information for those commuting on or near the College of Charleston campus. The College of Charleston has several resources to help students, faculty, and staff travel safely around campus. As a reminder, the Department of Public Safety is available 24/7 to provide safety escorts to all students, faculty, and staff. The Cougar Shuttle is available for off-campus transportation on the downtown peninsula seven nights a week from 11:00 P.M. – 3:00 A.M., during the fall and spring semesters. For more resources and safety tips, please click here.

• As a reminder, Public Safety Officers are now 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 obey all traffic signs and signals. Please review the ordinances relating to bicycles and skateboards here.

• As Thanksgiving break is approaching, now is the time to prepare your residence if you are planning on going out of town for the holiday. For those of you residing in the downtown area, particularly students living in off-campus housing, you can contact the Charleston Police Department ((843) 720-2426) if you would like an officer to keep an eye on your residence while you are away. Any faculty, staff, or students living outside the immediate area are encouraged to call their local police department, as most law enforcement agencies offer this service.

• 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:

If you plan to do your Black Friday shopping online, take a few extra precautions to make sure you are protected. Before surfing the Internet, secure your personal computers by updating your security software. Everyone’s computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-spam software, as well as a good firewall installed. Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.

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

With finals just around the corner, and our hours of daylight diminishing earlier, now is an excellent time to review some vital safety information for those commuting on or near the College of Charleston campus. The College of Charleston has several resources to help students, faculty, and staff travel safely around campus.

Safety Escort System

The College of Charleston Department of Public Safety is available for safety escorts on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An officer will meet you at your location and walk with you to your destination. To utilize this service, simply call Public Safety at (843) 953-5609.

The Cougar Shuttle

The Cougar Shuttle fleet consists of a 12 passenger van, an 8 passenger van and a 5 passenger van dedicated to the safe transportation of College of Charleston students anywhere on the downtown peninsula. The shuttle operates seven nights a week from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m. during the fall and spring semesters. The service is free to all students who present a valid Cougar Card. To schedule a pick-up, call 888.960.2227. Please let the dispatcher know if you have special needs so we can better serve you.

Cougar Shuttle was launched as a free service to students in the fall of 2009. It has safely transported thousands of students throughout the downtown area.

Campus Night Map

The Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with the Division of Marketing and Communications, created the Campus Night Map . This map shows the recommended routes of nighttime foot travel based off of adequate lighting conditions and easy access to our emergency call boxes. When traveling on foot after dark, please consider using the routes highlighted on this map for your safety.

Whistle Alert Program

The College of Charleston Department of Public Safety participates in the Whistle Alert Program. Through this program, campus community members are encouraged to blow a whistle, or other noise making device, to alert a Public Safety Officer that they are in a dangerous situation. The Department of Public Safety offers free whistles to students wishing to participate. More information on the Whistle Alert Program can be found here.

R.A.D.

The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of self-defense tactics and techniques. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. Courses are held every semester and are free of charge. To sign up, or if you would like more information, please contact rad@cofc.edu.

If you do plan on traveling at night, familiarize yourself with the routes you normally travel. 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-lit. Plan the safest route to your destination; choose well-lit, busy pathways and streets. Avoid alleyways or “short cuts” through isolated areas. Travel in groups and avoid going out alone at night. 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. Walk with a confident stride; keep your head up and look around.

For questions or more information, please contact PSO Madeline Sloan at sloanm1@cofc.edu.

Good Morning Campus Community,

It is hard to believe how quickly the semester is passing by. I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. As we continue into the fall semester, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

• This week we experienced the end of Daylight Savings Time, and accordingly turned our clocks back an hour. Our evenings will become darker much earlier, and activities around campus will continue far past nightfall. Activities that used to occur in the daylight will now occur in the darkness: going to your vehicle after work, walking home from class, attending a campus meeting or event. With the early onset of nightfall, we must make adjustments to our daily routines. Please take a moment to review safety tips here.

• 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.

• Attention all bicyclists! Public Safety needs your help. Bicycle larcenies continue to be one of the top crimes on the College of Charleston campus. This semester, our officers are noticing more and more bicycles that are not properly locked, or not locked at all. As a reminder, it is important that your bicycle is locked to a designated bicycle rack at all times, even if you are just stepping away for a moment. For more information on how to properly secure your bicycle, stop by Public Safety, or visit this 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:

Plan the safest route to your destination. Choose well-lit, busy pathways and streets. To identify recommended routes of travel at night, see the Campus Night Map.

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

It’s that time of year again! Daylight Savings time is here, which means our evenings will become darker much earlier. Activities around campus, however, will continue far past nightfall. Activities that used to occur in the daylight will now occur in the darkness: going to your vehicle after work, walking home from class, attending a campus meeting or event. Take a moment to review these safety tips:

Contacting Law Enforcement

• Know the emergency telephone number for the campus (Public Safety 843-953-5611) or dial 911 if off campus

• Keep the emergency phone numbers in your cell phone. If you regularly use an office phone, keep emergency numbers nearby (stickers, magnets, etc.).

• Learn where the campus emergency telephones (Emergency Call Boxes) are located on campus and learn how to use them.

• Ensure that you are subscribed to the campus mass notification system (Cougar Alert) on campus.

• Participate in any campus emergency transmitter, whistle, or other safety programs being offered. Public Safety offers free whistles to students wishing to participate in the Whistle Alert Program.

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. To identify recommended routes of travel at night, see the Campus Night Map

• 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 safety escort system offered by Public Safety, or the Cougar Shuttle at night.

• 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. Female students are encouraged to enroll in R.A.D. program. It is a free women’s self-defense class offered several times throughout the semester.

• If a motorist stops and asks for directions, keep your distance from the car.

Vehicle Security

Everyday, law enforcement agencies take crime reports from victims of thefts of property from their vehicles as well as stolen vehicle reports. Though nothing can prevent you from ever being a victim of such a crime, there are things you can do to lessen the odds of your being victimized. Many thieves are opportunists and will look for the vehicle that is unlocked or the one that may be locked but has valuables left inside. Even if your vehicle is locked and alarmed, if there are valuables in sight (even covered up) a window may be smashed to gain entry. This all can occur in a matter of seconds.

• Secure your valuables and engrave expensive items with identifying information.

• Always lock your doors and windows at night, especially if you reside on the first or second floors.

• Do not leave your identification, keys, wallets, checkbooks, or other valuables in open view.

• Never leave the keys inside the vehicle.

• Make sure that all windows are up all the way before locking your vehicle.

• Lock your vehicle even if you are only going to be away from it a short time.

• Make sure your vehicle alarm is activated whenever you exit/lock your vehicle.

• Do not leave valuables, (i.e. purses, wallets, cellular phones, cameras, laptop computers etc.) inside your vehicle, even if it is locked.

• Even if your vehicle is locked and alarmed, do not attempt to “hide” valuables under the seat or under an item of clothing in the vehicle.

• Report any theft from your vehicle immediately to your local law enforcement agency. It is up to you whether or not you chose to report this to your insurance company.

• If you observe anyone acting suspiciously in the area of a vehicle, report it immediately to Public Safety at 843-953-5611

Good Afternoon Campus Community,

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable fall break. As the temperature finally starts to cool down, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

• The Department of Public Safety will be conducting our annual Campus Safety Walk on November 5, 2015 at 6:00pm. We will meet in the lobby of Stern Center. This is an opportunity for members of the College of Charleston community to discuss safety and security concerns. During the event, attendees will walk the campus with a Public Safety Officer and point out any evident concerns. Pizza and beverages will be provided.

• Police have arrested a suspect for a purse snatching and three armed robberies that occurred between August 24, 2015 and October 7, 2015 in downtown Charleston. You may recognize these incidents from the Timely Warnings that were sent out on September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2015. For more information, please contact Charles Francis with the Charleston Police Department at Francisc@charleston-sc.gov.

• Attention all bicyclists! Public Safety needs your help. Bicycle larcenies continue to be one of the top crimes on the College of Charleston campus. This semester, our officers are noticing more and more bicycles that are not properly locked, or not locked at all. As a reminder, it is important that your bicycle is locked to a designated bicycle rack at all times, even if you are just stepping away for a moment. For more information on how to properly secure your bicycle, stop by Public Safety, or visit this webpage.

• Thank you to those of you who provided feedback regarding the placement of bicycle racks around campus. We have been working closely with the Office of Sustainability to address each and every one of your concerns. All further inquiries may be directed to Chief Reese at reeser@cofc.edu.

• Our last RAD class of the fall semester is approaching quickly. Please take note of the dates and times below. We still have room in this class for any students, faculty, or staff interested in participating. To sign up, or if you would like more information, please visit our website or email rad@cofc.edu.

Saturday Class

10/24/15 10am-4pm

11/07/15 10am-4pm

• The Department of Public Safety, Fire and EMS, and Emergency Management has teamed up to offer training for the various departments on campus. In this training, we will review emergency response procedures in potential situations such as active shooters, bomb threats, gas leaks, and fire alarms. Those who have attended this training found it to be extremely informative and helpful. In addition to reviewing emergency response procedures, we will also be available to answer any specific questions or areas of concern your team may have. We can attend a staff meeting, or make arrangements to come at another time that works best for your department. Please let me know if this is something you are interested in, or if you have any questions.

• 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:

If you plan on partaking in Halloween festivities, remember that no one over 16 may wear a mask in public, and even that is only allowed for actual Trick-or-Treat activities. If attending a late night event or costume party, people must wait until they arrive to put on any masks. Please visit our website for more local ordinances, and for Halloween 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

Crime Prevention Specialist

Department of Public Safety

Office of the President

89 St. Philip Street

Charleston, SC 29424

(843)953-5609

Good Morning,

I hope that everyone managed to stay safe during the heavy rainfall and flooding over the past few days.  As the campus continues to dry, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:

• Students, faculty, and staff on college campuses use the Internet for a variety of reasons including doing homework, social networking, as well as communicating and posting lesson plans and grades. October has been declared National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM – not to be confused with National Campus Safety Awareness Month, which is in September) through presidential proclamation. This is an opportune time to recognize the importance of cyber security by educating and engaging campus community members through activities, events, and training that will raise cyber security awareness and promote safe online habits.

• Attention all bicyclists! Public Safety needs your help. Bicycle larcenies continue to be one of the top crimes on the College of Charleston campus. This semester, our officers are noticing more and more bicycles that are not properly locked, or not locked at all. As a reminder, it is important that your bicycle is locked to a designated bicycle rack at all times, even if you are just stepping away for a moment. For more information on how to properly secure your bicycle, stop by Public Safety, or visit this webpage.

• On the topic of bicycles, the Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with Physical Plant and the Office of Sustainability, has been working on improving bicycle parking on campus. We are looking to identify areas that have a high volume of bicycles and a need for additional parking options. If you have any suggestions, or would like to be involved with this process, please contact me at sloanm1@cofc.edu

• Due to the change in the academic schedule, we will be altering the dates of our Saturday RAD classes in October. Please take note of the dates and times below. To sign up, or if you would like more information, please visit our website or email rad@cofc.edu.

Saturday Class                                                   Weekday Class

10/24/15 10am-4pm                                       10/13/15 5:30pm-8:30pm

11/07/15 10am-4pm                                       10/15/15 5:30pm-8:30pm

10/19/15 5:30pm-8:30pm

10/22/15 5:30pm-8:30pm

• The Department of Public Safety, Fire and EMS, and Emergency Management has teamed up to offer training for the various departments on campus. In this training, we will review emergency response procedures in potential situations such as active shooters, bomb threats, gas leaks, and fire alarms. Those who have attended this training found it to be extremely informative and helpful. In addition to reviewing emergency response procedures, we will also be available to answer any specific questions or areas of concern your team may have. We can attend a staff meeting, or make arrangements to come at another time that works best for your department. Please let me know if this is something you are interested in, or if you have any questions.

• Moped thefts, motor vehicle thefts, and thefts from motor vehicles are still on the rise in the Charleston area. Please take necessary precautions to protect your personal property. 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.
• 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:

Did you know that every area on campus is assigned a community-oriented police (COP) officer? If you haven’t done so already, take a moment to get to know your COP. They are a great resource and have a wealth of information to share.

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

In recent weeks, there has been a phone scam affecting our CofC students. We have received several reports from our students about receiving disturbing phone calls. The caller generally claims to be a law enforcement official and states that there is a warrant out for the students arrest. During the phone call, the caller attempts to gain personally identifiable information about the student. This information is false; law enforcement will not call any citizen in this manner. If you receive this call, hang up immediately and contact Public Safety.

Please also make note of the press release the FBI put out a few days ago.

https://www.fbi.gov/atlanta/press-releases/2015/college-students-targeted-in-phone-scam