Campus police are continuing to look at new ways to make life at the University safer.
A mass-notifying system is expected to come online by November. It is said to be capable of sending text messages and calling students and staff directly, should a threat to their safety arise.
The University Police Department (UPD) strives every year to make the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus safer, with this year being no different. But even with new precautions and technology in place, the UPD still recommends that students take extra steps to ensure their own personal safety.
In the last year, four sexual offenses, two aggravated assaults, 30 burglaries and six motor vehicle thefts were reported within housing and around the campus. This is down a considerable amount from the previous two years, but still a concern.
The UPD never recommends walking alone if it can be helped, but also has some tips for those who may have no alternative, particularly at night.
“First, don’t walk alone if you can help it. If you can’t, call the UPD and let us patrol extra in that area. Carry a cell phone, let someone you know where you are and when you expect to arrive home,” Jason Bone, crime information office for the UPD said. “Call that person once you have arrived. Stick to well-lit areas and well traveled routes.”
In the event that a person does not have a cell phone, there are also emergency phone stations throughout campus, mainly in parking lots. These phones contact 911 directly via a speakerphone.
“They have been used in the past usually for car issues, but I can recall one where there was a domestic violence case involving non-students that lived across the street,” Bone said.
If approached by a stranger at night, the UPD recommends that a people, first and foremost, keep their cool. Some situations call for full cooperation and others don’t.
911 should be called if possible, and the person approached should try to get away if the opportunity is there.
According to Bone, sometimes full cooperation may be the best thing (i.e. give the attacker a wallet or purse), but he strongly cautions against getting in a stranger’s vehicle.
“Never, ever get in a car with the attacker or otherwise allow them to take you off somewhere. Your chances of remaining safe are reduced dramatically once you go off somewhere with your attacker,” Bone said.
In order to prevent such things from happening, the UPD also patrols the University 24/7, and tries to deal with situations ahead of time if they know of any danger.
“I think we have some advantages here over larger campuses located in larger cities. The very fact that Commerce is such a small town helps to keep crime down,” Bone said.
To report any issues concerning safety or crime, students and faculty can call 911 or the UPD at 903-886-5868.