Dear students, faculty & staff:

At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, Towson University Police received reports of possible shots fired in a Tower C stairwell. TU’s Office of Public Safety promptly responded and found one injured individual who was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a self-inflicted, non-life-threatening gunshot wound. 

A joint TUPD and Baltimore County Police investigation found that an individual, who is not an affiliate of Towson University, discharged the weapon which resulted in an injury to their lower body. Individuals believed to be involved were questioned and one arrest was made. There were no other injuries. Firearms are strictly prohibited on TU’s campus, and an immediate after-action review is underway.

I commend our Office of Public Safety, Division of Student Affairs and local first responders for their swift and thorough response to this incident. We are grateful to Baltimore County Police for their partnership, and we continue to support them as they have taken the lead in investigating Thursday’s incident. Anyone with information may call 410-887-INFO.

TU’s highest priority is the safety of our entire campus community. As TigerFest weekend begins, I want to reaffirm our university’s commitment to public safety and share the resources in place to ensure our campus remains a secure and welcoming environment:  

Clear Bag Procedures

Earlier this spring, TU implemented new event security procedures for our largest campus events, which include the use of magnetometers (walk-through metal detectors). As a result, attendees at designated large-scale campus events must bring their items in approved clear bags. Learn more.

Emergency Notifications

As part of TU’s commitment to public safety, the university issues alerts in the event of an emergency on or near campus. Students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive all emergency alerts. Parents, community members and other non-affiliated individuals are encouraged to register to also receive emergency text alerts. Text alerts are part of TU’s comprehensive emergency notification system and include critical updates for active safety threats, severe weather events, traffic advisories and more.

SaferMobility App

TU partners with the SaferMobility app to offer a mobile-escort feature, a video chat capability that allows you to send the Towson University Police Department (TUPD) real-time video of an ongoing crime, and an instant messaging feature that silently connects you with the TUPD. Search for “SaferMobility” in the App Store or on Google Play.

TU SafeRide & SafeWalk

TU SafeRide and SafeWalk services are available to support campus safety at all hours. SafeRide operates as an on-call service from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week, offering pick-up and drop-off across campus, the University Village, and designated Tiger-In-Town stops along York Road between Towsontown Boulevard and Joppa Road. In addition, TU SafeWalk provides escorts for anyone who feels uncomfortable walking on campus at any time of day. Rides and escorts can be requested by calling 410-704-SAFE.

Emergency Phones

There are 235 phones in the TU Emergency Phone System on campus. This includes 64 Blue Light pedestal phones and 54 other emergency phones on the exterior of buildings, at entrances to buildings and in campus garage elevator lobbies. Activating the emergency telephone system prompts a call directly to the TUPD. Safety concerns can also be reported to TU’s Office of Public Safety by calling 410-704-4444.

TU Counseling Center

Towson University’s Counseling Center offers resources to support the entire community. Through TogetherAll, TU students can access FREE, 24/7 online peer-to-peer support, connecting with others who are experiencing similar struggles and support one another through their shared lived experiences with stress, anxiety, isolation and other common mental health challenges. To access the service, go to the mobile-responsive webpage, www.togetherall.com and enter your TU email address to register.

Additionally, TU’s Office of Public Safety works closely with the Baltimore County Police Department on matters immediately surrounding the TU campus, where Tigers live, work and socialize. TU has invested in that partnership, funding a grant to the county police to provide additional resources for public safety in the downtown Towson area. The grant enables two additional county police officers to patrol the downtown precinct in the overnight hours seven days a week.

For immediate concerns regarding campus safety, please contact TU’s Office of Public Safety at 410-704-4444.

Thank you for your continued care of one another and your support in keeping our community safe.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.
President