Daniella Tebib
Contributing Writer
dtebib@murraystate.edu
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.
“Our agency is an accredited police department committed to providing the highest level of quality police services and promoting a safe and secure campus for students, faculty, staff and guests,” Police Chief Jeff Gentry said in a letter on the MSU PD website.
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 of 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.
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, 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.
For more information, visit murraystate.edu/police.