Timely Warning Policy

The Campus Crime Alert (“Alert”) is provided to give students, faculty and staff timely notification of crimes that may represent a serious or on-going threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. The Alert also seeks information that may lead to arrest and conviction of the offender when violent crimes against persons or substantial crimes against property have been reported.

SWOSU Campus Police are responsible for issuing a Campus Crime Alert when a crime is reported to or brought to the attention of the SWOSU Campus Police or other campus security authorities and that crime represents a serious or on-going threat to the safety of members of the campus community. Information for Alerts also comes from other law enforcement agencies. Every attempt will be made to distribute the Alert within reasonable amount of the time the incident is reported to SWOSU Campus Police; however, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident, and investigation restraints. Alerts are created by SWOSU Campus Police and distributed by University Communications.

Timely Warning Procedure

SWOSU Campus Police may issue a Campus Crime Alert whenever a report is received of a violent crime against a person or a substantial crime against property on campus that represents a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of students, faculty and staff. Alerts may be assigned the same number as the corresponding police report and provide details of the crime, a description of the suspect if known, information on whom to contact with information and safety tips.

Campus Crime Alerts may be e-mailed, text (Omnilert) message, bulletin boards or other available means, as reasonably and timely as possible to faculty, staff, and students, distributed throughout campus, provided to campus media, posted on the SWOSU Campus Police website and, if appropriate, posted in off-campus areas frequented by students.

Whenever the Weatherford Police Department issues a news release about an off-campus crime that represents a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the university may assist in publicizing the crime on campus.

Campus Crime Alerts typically include the following information:

1. A succinct statement of the incident.
2. Any connection to previous incidents.
3. Physical description and/or composite drawing of the suspect, if appropriate.
4. Date and time the bulletin was released.
5. Other relevant and important information.
6. Appropriate safety tips.

The University provides emergency notification services (Omnilert) to the university community via cell phone text messages and email. The Emergency Text Messaging System is available to students, faculty, and staff on Weatherford and Sayre remote locationes.

To participate in this service, individuals must register through the SWOSU Campus Police website.

Messages may be used for situations that pose immediate danger or the closing of an entire campus. Messages about Campus Crime Alerts generally will not be sent unless it is decided there is imminent threat of danger. This notification service is provided in addition to existing emergency reporting procedures and does not replace or eliminate any emergency notification system (e.g., tornado sirens).