Troy, N.Y. — The Department of Public Safety at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has launched a new Web site. The redesigned, user-friendly site features easy access to education information, safety prevention programs, and other services provided by the department, including online, real-time Public Safety bulletins and alerts.

“The Department of Public Safety is an important campus resource that focuses on facilitating a safe and secure environment for Rensselaer’s students, faculty, staff, and guests,” said Paul Martin, assistant vice president for administration. “We believe that Rensselaer is one of the safest campuses in the United States, based on our proactive approach to maintaining a safe and secure environment. The newly designed site offers one-stop shopping with helpful information and links to the programs and services Public Safety provides, with a primary focus on education and safety for members of the Rensselaer community.”

The Department of Public Safety provides a range of services including: 24-hour campus patrols (by car, foot, and bicycle), safety escort services for students walking alone at night, emergency call boxes throughout campus, and safety education.

The department also provides 24-hour, 365-day-a-year response to life-safety incidents, coordinates internal and external resources to assist the management of critical incidents, and conducts awareness programs to proactively assist its community members in the maintenance of personal safety.

“The key to preventing crime is awareness, which is best achieved through education and training,” according to Joseph Audino, acting director of Rensselaer’s Department of Public Safety. “This prevention message is continually reinforced by regular education and training programs presented by Public Safety and other university personnel on topics such as first aid, fire safety, defensive driving, substance abuse, and self defense. In addition, Public Safety officers are available to discuss crime prevention in areas such as personal safety and theft, as well as general campus safety procedures. The vast majority of potential incidents on campus can be avoided if students take basic precautions such as securing their property, locking their doors, walking with others during the night, and using the safety escort service. Individuals that commit crimes need the desire, ability, and opportunity. This is referred to as the crime prevention triangle, and our approach in Public Safety is focus on eliminating or reducing the opportunities for crime to occur.”

The Department of Public Safety offices are located in the Rensselaer Visitor Information Center on 15th Street. Visit the new Web site at: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/public_safety/

Contact: Jessica Otitigbe
Phone: (518) 276-6050
E-mail: otitij@rpi.edu