Public safety: McNichols campus safe, says chief

BY CRYSTAL GREEN

VN STAFF WRITER

Detroit Mercy Public Safety Director Joel Gallihugh describes the McNichols Campus as an extremely safe place for students.

Dorms have layers of security, cameras cover common areas and timely notifications get sent out to students informed and updated on public safety issues, he said.

Although these safeguards have been put in place, Gallihugh urges students not to forsake common sense. 

“When you’re going out, use the ‘buddy system,’ ” he said. “Always be aware of your surroundings. Use the escort service the public safety department offers.” 

He said “crimes of opportunity” are the most common on campus.

A crime of opportunity is a crime that is committed without planning when the perpetrator sees a chance to commit the act at that moment and seizes it.

Such acts (often thefts) have little or no premeditation, he said.

To combat crimes of opportunity, students and staff should always secure their belongings and lock their vehicles.

Do not leave valuables in plain sight inside vehicles.

Instead, secure them in the trunk, and lock all doors and windows each time you leave.

Students can also secure valuables in lockers. 

Public Safety provides numerous services to the university community, including auto battery jump-starts, campus escorts, educational programs, security surveys, emergency services, operation identification, conditional temporary parking and vehicle lockouts.

The Clery Act requires all campus security and crime statistics be reported to the public by postsecondary institutions that receive Title IV aid. 

The act requires these institutions, including Detroit Mercy, to keep and disclose information about crime on and near campus. 

The fire and incident logs report everything from larceny to lost and found. 

Also, in compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, the university annually discloses crime statistics for incidents occurring on and around the university's campuses. 

Both daily and annual crime, incident and fire logs can be found at https://www.udmercy.edu/life/public-safety/clery/index.php.