THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Authority and Jurisdiction

The public safety staff is composed solely of "non-sworn" officers, with no arrest authority outside the guidelines provided for private citizens in making a citizen's detainment.

Detention of offenders by private persons

1. No Arrest; Detention Permitted. No private person may arrest another person (except as provided in North Carolina General Statute 15A-405). A private person may detain another person as provided in this section.
2. Arrest Permitted. The Greensboro Police Department patrols the campus daily and has the authority to arrest any persons within their jurisdiction and authority.
3. When Detention Is Permitted. A private person may detain another person when she/he has probable cause to believe that the person detained has committed in her/his presence:
1. a felony;
2. a breach of the peace;
3. a crime involving physical injury to another person; or
4. a crime involving theft or destruction of property.
4. Manner of Detention. The detention must be in a reasonable manner considering the offense involved and the circumstances of the detention.
5. Period of Detention. The detention may be no longer than the time required for the earliest of the following:
1. The determination that no offense has been committed;
2. Surrender of the person detained to a law enforcement officer as provided in subsection F.
6. Surrender to Officer. A private person who detains another must immediately notify a law enforcement officer and must, unless she/he releases the person earlier as required by subsection E, surrender the person detained to the law enforcement officer.

The authority of the public safety staff is to follow college policy in all matters of campus life, facilities use and crime prevention. The public safety office assists the campus life staff in initiating campus judicial or administrative action against a Guilford College student who violates college policy and/or regulations.

Public Safety Services

We provide the following services to the members of the Guilford College Community:

• 24-hour public safety protection and awareness: the patrolling of campus areas with primary concern for personal safety of all students, staff, faculty and visitors
• 24-hour control room dispatch/2911 Emergency Line center
• Emergency phone with immediate connection to central dispatcher for medical assistance, fire alert, police assistance and suspicious activity (refer to map on back cover for locations of emergency phones – Proposed to be installed by December 2007)
• Crime prevention programming to assist all community members in heightened awareness of safety issues
• On-campus escorts upon request
• Whistle Alert Program
• Liaison services to all local law enforcement agencies
• Property identification to minimize theft
• Monitoring safety conditions and filing safety-related work requests
• Enforcement of campus vehicle registration and parking regulations
• Bicycle Registration Program
• Campus facilities access control
• Fire, health, safety and risk management responsibilities

Safety and Crime Prevention Programs

The Public Safety Office presents safety awareness and crime prevention programs each year during orientation and at special events. The public safety staff also works in close cooperation with the Office for Campus Life to conduct relevant and useful programming in Guilford's residence halls. Safety awareness and crime prevention programming is also a part of new employee orientation, in cooperation with the Human Resources Office. Some features of this programming include:

The Whistle Alert Program
The College has made whistles available to all students, faculty and staff. Carrying a whistle is a wise safety prevention measure. If you sense trouble, go to a well-lighted area and blow your whistle; if you hear a whistle, call Public Safety immediately.

Bicycle Registration
The public safety office provides a bicycle registration program to discourage theft and aid identification in the recovery of lost or stolen property.

Public Safety Tips

• Keep your room locked at all times.
• Never copy your room keys. Report lost keys to the Campus Life office immediately.
• Do not prop exterior residence hall doors.
• When walking across campus at night, walk with a friend or in a group.
• Report suspicious persons or activities to the public safety office.
• Report theft or other crimes to the public safety office immediately.
• Lock your vehicle. Do not leave valuables unattended.
• Maintain accurate records of your belongings and their serial numbers.
• Do not let strangers into your residence hall or room.
• If you feel endangered or threatened, call x2909 for a courtesy escort.  Escorting is a courtesy service and not a priority.

The public safety office encourages all students to be conscious of their own safety and security and to report any unsafe conditions.