Towson University’s Police Communications Center sends emergency messages whenever
there are urgent safety concerns on or near campus. Dispatchers follow the university’s emergency communications matrix, which plans for
when and how messages will be sent based on the level of threat, proximity of threat
and potential impact to the campus community.
We use the following platforms to communicate emergencies:
Emergency Alerts and Safety Advisories
Two of the most common types of TU emergency communications are emergency alerts and safety advisories.
TU Emergency Alerts
TU Emergency Alerts are urgent messages about incidents on campus. Emergency alerts
are typically sent via email to all university-issued email accounts and via text message to individuals registered for emergency text alerts. Emergency alerts are also posted on the TUPD’s news page. The types of messages
sent as TU Emergency Alerts include:
- on-campus, extreme emergencies (e.g., gas leak, bomb threat)
- extreme or severe weather (e.g., hurricane, earthquake)
- school closure notifications (due to emergency)
- messages required to be sent under local, state or federal law
TU Emergency Alerts also include Clery Emergency Notifications and Clery Timely Warning
Notices.
Clery Emergency Notifications (text and email) inform the campus community of a significant emergency or dangerous
situation occurring on campus involving an immediate, imminent or impending threat
to the health and safety of the campus community.
Clery Timely Warning Notices (via email only) notify the campus community whenever there is an on-campus Clery
Act crime that represents a serious or continuing threat to the safety of students
or employees.
TU Safety Advisories
TU safety advisories are safety and informational messages about incidents that are
not known to be immediate threats to individuals on TU’s campus. Safety Advisories
are typically sent via email to all university-issued email accounts. Safety Advisories are also posted on the TUPD’s news page. The types of messages sent
as TU Safety Advisory notifications include:
- off-campus incidents (as the TUPD is made aware of them and to the extent such information
does not impede ongoing criminal investigations by the Baltimore County Police Department)
- on-campus advisory messages (e.g., traffic advisories, weather notifications)
- school closings (due to weather or non-emergency)
- general safety messages
How families receive EMERGENCY notifications
Parents and families can opt to receive Campus Emergency Notifications if their email address is added with their student’s request in the Campus Emergency
Notification System.
Local News Sources
Towson University provides up-to-date information on closings and events to the local
media outlets listed below. These outlets are reliable resources for university information
in the case of inclement weather or an emergency situation.
TU Public Safety on Social Media
The Towson University Office of Public Safety maintains a Facebook and Twitter account. The accounts are used to disseminate TU emergency alerts, safety advisories,
crime-prevention suggestions and safety tips and general posts about the university
and local community.
Communicate with Us
Our Police Communications Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us
at 410-704-4444 to report a crime or share suspicious activity. You can also contact
our non-emergency number, 410-704-2134, for any questions or concerns.
Emergency Blue Light Phones
There are 235 phones in TU’s public emergency phone system. This includes 64 Blue Light pedestal phones and 54 other emergency phones on the exterior of buildings, at entrances to buildings and
in the garage elevator lobbies across campus. Activating the emergency telephone system
prompts a call directly to the Towson University Police Department.
SaferMobility
The SaferMobility app features three main components: a mobile-escort feature that
tracks your touch and, if you take your finger off the screen, sounds an alarm and
calls the police; a video component that allows you to video chat with the TU Police
Department and send them real-time video of an ongoing crime; and an instant message
feature that allows you to message the TU Police Department in situations where you
don’t want to be heard. To download the free app, search for Towson University in
the App Store or on Google Play, then select SaferMobility.
Questions and Concerns
We strive to provide professional, community-oriented policing services to the campus
community. We welcome your feedback. If you have a question or concern, contact our
administrative offices at 410-704-2505, email us at police AT_TOWSON or complete the confidential feedback form and fax it to the Chief of Police Joe Herring at 410-704-5984.