University News
Campus Safety Awareness Month: WIU Office of Public Safety
September 1, 2022
Dear University Community,
As September is Campus Safety Awareness Month, I'd like to take this opportunity to share the services, programs, and resources that the Office of Public Safety (OPS) has in place to ensure the health, safety and security of our University community.
Our police officers are present 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we work with others across campus and within our local communities to provide a safe environment and to ensure that our campuses are peaceful and secure. Western Illinois University promotes a culture of community accountability. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 immediately.
OPS programs and strategies include a campus-based safe walk program and student patrols; Western's Emergency Alert System (WEAS); emergency callboxes; crime victim assistance and advocacy; Western's Emergency Medical Services (WEMS) [non-transport emergency medical service]; prevention and awareness programs/presentations, including the nationally-recognized RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) program. More information about these programs and resources can be found at wiu.edu/safety.
In addition to routine patrol by car, our sworn police officers patrol campus on foot, as well as in the residence halls. The officers provide security and traffic control at University events, conduct building safety checks and host educational programming.
If you have concerns or questions or need to report a crime or suspicious behavior, call OPS immediately or visit Mowbray Hall at any time [(309) 298-1949]. Sexual misconduct can be reported to OPS or to the Title IX coordinator at Title-IX@wiu.edu or (309) 298-1977.
Should you become a victim of a crime, we have numerous resources in place to help. The University Counseling Center provides free, confidential counseling services to currently enrolled WIU students. The UCC can be reached at (309) 298-2453. The University offers a student hotline [(309) 298-3211 or (866) 435-0480], and the Western Illinois Regional Council's Victim Services unit provides a 24-hour crisis line [(309) 837-5555].
For more information about Office of Public Safety resources and services, contact the Office of Public Safety at (309) 298-1949 or email publicsafety@wiu.edu. You can also find additional campus security information at wiu.edu/ops.
We are here for you, and we look forward to a successful – and safe – academic year at WIU.
Derek Watts
Director
Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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