Daniella Tebib
News Editor
To ensure the safety of students, Murray State has implemented several safety measures on campus.
The Murray State Police Department is always available for students in trouble. They are staffed 24/7 with 16 sworn officers and 24 support staff. MSU PD can be reached by calling (270) 809-2222.
If students find themselves in an emergency on campus, they can reach the police department by activating a nearby call box.
On campus, there are a total of 40 emergency call boxes including two different types: yellow call boxes and blue light call boxes. Both types are directly linked to the Murray State police dispatch.
The blue light emergency call boxes found on campus are the posts with the solar panels and a blue light on top. The word “emergency” is written on the post.
Should an emergency occur, students can activate the call box by pressing the emergency button on the box. Once activated, the blue light on top of the post will start flashing. An officer will then be dispatched and receive the location of the call box immediately.
The yellow call boxes also offer a direct line of communication with the Murray State Police Department. However, they do not flash a light when activated. They can be found on the sides of buildings and poles on campus, such as the residential colleges.
Jamie Herring, Murray State chief of police, said students, faculty and staff should also download LiveSafe on their phones.
“LiveSafe is the official safety app of the University,” Herring said. “All members of our community should have this app on their phones. This app provides quick access to text messages or call the Murray State Police Department, emergency procedures and Safe Walk options.”
The app offers several features to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff while walking around on campus.
The SafeWalk feature allows students to let their friends make sure they safely arrive at their destination as well as contact the police department in the case of an emergency.
The GoSafe feature allows students to contact Racer Patrol for an on-campus escort.
In addition to LiveSafe, Herring said students should ensure they keep their cell phone information updated on myGate to receive Racer Alert notifications. MSU PD uses Racer Alert to notify the community of emergencies, like tornadoes, via text, email, social media and sirens..
Herring said to ensure the safety of students, it’s important for parents to talk to their children about the importance of safety before leaving for college.
“We always ask parents to reinforce that after students leave the house, they become largely responsible for their own safety,” Herring said. “It is a change of mindset. We are there to help, but the students have to take responsibility for securing their property and being alert to any threats to their personal safety. Encourage them to use the LiveSafe app and to take advantage of the Safe Walk and walking escort service.”
For more information, visit murraystate.edu/police.
