Campus Safety Plan

San Jose State University (SJSU) is an urban campus located on 154 acres in the heart of California's third (and America’s tenth) largest city. From its beginning in 1857 as a teacher's college, SJSU has grown into a thriving community of more than 33,000 faculty, students and staff.

As SJSU grew, so did the City of San Jose. Once an agricultural community of a few thousand homes; San José is now the tenth largest city in United States with a population of more than one million people.

As a “city within a city,” the university is committed to safeguarding members of the campus community as well as the large and growing number of visitors who come to the campus year-round to take advantage of its curricular, cultural, entertainment and artistic programming. This overview is intended to provide a general holistic sense of the infrastructure, staffing and related programs that contribute to the campus’s overall safety efforts.

The Unversity Police Department (UPD) annually documents about 60,000 incidents, arrests between 800 and 900 suspects and writes about 2,500 reports. The Police Communications Center dispatches UPD personnel to more than 50,000 calls for service each year. UPD and Parking Services personnel annually work more than 200 special events attended by over 500,000 people.  SJSU’s UPD is also dispatch for Foothill/DeAnza College, and California Maritime Academy.

SJSU began employing sworn armed police officers in the 1970's. On October 1, 1975, UPD Police Officers became armed 24 hours a day by Executive Order of the CSU/Chancellor's Office.  UPD officers were recognized by the California Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) in 1975 and in the years since then the UPD has developed into a full-service law enforcement agency.

Contact Information

Resource Contact
Phone Phone: 4-2000 from any on-campus phone
Dispatch 24 Hour

Phone: 408-924-2222

TTY: 408-924-2226

Safety Escort / Safe Ride Program Phone: 408-924-2000
Administration

Phone: 408-924-2185
Fax: 408-277-3512

Investigations Phone: 408-924-2218
Property Room Phone: 408-924-1477
Records/LiveScan Phone: 408-924-2172

Anonymous Reporting

Time Event Description
TipNow

Voicemail/Text: 408-337-2919

Email/Text: sjsu@tipnow.org

CrimeStoppers

Phone: 408-924-2236

University Police Department (UPD)

Website

 

Staffing

Improvement Areas

Environmental Design

Emergency Management Program

The San Jose State University (SJSU) Emergency Management Program works with the extended SJSU community to coordinate emergency planning, training, response and recovery efforts during and after disruptive incidents and major disasters.  A cornerstone of this program is the Emergency Operation Plan [pdf] (EOP), which is a guide on how to conduct an all-hazard response.   It is built on scalable, flexible, and adaptable coordinating structures to align key roles and responsibilities on the campus. The plan describes specific authorities and best practices for managing emergencies ranging from catastrophic natural disasters and active shooter incidents to large scale terrorists attacks. The EOP has been written to be compliant with federal and state guidelines, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) respectively.  In order to become familiar with their responsibilities and acquire the skills necessary to perform the required tasks, emergency personnel must attend training sessions regularly.  Also, exercises provide a means to validate plans, checklists, and procedures, as well as evaluate the skills of response personnel.  The EOP facilitates response and short-term recovery activities, streamlining long term recovery.  An effective response hinges upon well-trained leaders and responders who have invested in emergency preparedness, developed engaged partnerships on campus, and are able to achieve shared objectives.

Situation

  • San Jose State University is subject to many hazards that would require the use of a centralized Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to facilitate the coordination of response resources in a significant emergency situation.
  • San Jose State University will normally coordinate large scale emergency/disaster operations from its EOC.
  • The EOC is located on the second floor of the UPD building. There is a backup EOC in the MLK Library.
  • Response operations will be controlled from one or more Incident Command Post(s) which will be located near the emergency/disaster scene.
  • The Policy Group functions as a strategic policy team; setting general policy regarding overall SJSU emergency operations and recovery plans.
  • The EOC has the capability to communicate with the local, county, and state agencies needed in times of emergency.

Assumptions

  • The EOC procedures will be adequate for most disaster conditions that could arise for San Jose State University.
  • The Emergency Services Coordinator will coordinate a review of EOC procedures and update as necessary.
  • The EOC provides for the centralized locating of five functional sections of incident response consistent with NIMS and SEMS guidelines: Command; Operations; Planning; Logistics; and Finance.
  • Close coordination will be maintained between San Jose State University, the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County and any established Incident Command Posts (ICPs) to identify special considerations, secondary threats, and available resources.

Building Owners

  • Each facility has a designated “Building Owner,” which is generally the Vice President or Dean who has administrative responsibility for a specific campus building or buildings. They are responsible for ensuring that each campus building has a Building Coordinator and for disseminating and implementing emergency procedures. Building Owners work cooperatively with emergency personnel, UPD Emergency Coordinator, Building Coordinator and Building Emergency Teams in responding to and preparing for campus emergencies.

Building Coordinators

  • Each building on the SJSU campus has a Building Coordinator appointed by the Building Owner. The Building Coordinator recruits members for a Building Emergency Team, coordinates with the campus Emergency Coordinator to train the BET members, reviews the building evacuation plan, serves as the liaison with UPD during campus emergencies, coordinates building evacuations, reports hazardous conditions and operates the emergency radio.

Building Emergency Team members (SJSU Staff Volunteers)

  • Each building or facility will maintain a Building Emergency Team (BET), under the supervision of a Building Coordinator (BC). Team members respond to and assist in the evacuation of their assigned building upon activation of the fire alarm or at the first notice of a life-threatening condition requiring the immediate evacuation of a building’s occupants whether or not the alarm is sounded.
  • Support and work with the Building Coordinator to create and exercise a comprehensive building evacuation plan.
  • Practice as a team to develop the most thorough and timely evacuation procedures.
  • Perform a sweep of assigned area, consistent with personal safety, to ensure that all persons are alerted to evacuate the building when such an evacuation is required.
  • Ask persons with disabilities if they need assistance to evacuate the building.
  • Escort persons with mobility issues, who cannot self-evacuate, to stairwells and alert the Building Coordinator and emergency responders of their locations.
  • If able to do so safely, utilize the evacu-trac to evacuate disabled persons who require assistance.
  • Prevent persons, other than emergency responders, from entering an evacuated building until notified by the Building Coordinator that the building is safe and cleared for re-entry.
  • Notify Building Coordinator of any obvious hazardous conditions within their building.

Training

  • The goal of SJSU Emergency Management program’s training, drills and exercises is to ensure the EOC and campus community is prepared to carry out emergency response functions during any emergency situation. Training, drills and exercises are designed to meet the following goals:
  • Provide general instructions to the campus population regarding potential hazards, methods of alerting and protective actions.
  • Familiarize the campus community with evacuation procedures and routes to reduce panic during an actual emergency.
  • Provide training to members of the EOC team
  • Develop and conduct Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) compliant exercises and drills so that EOC team members are able to test plans and/or enhance their skills.
  • Training, drills, and exercises are conducted in a no-fault learning environment wherein systems and processes, not individuals, are evaluated.
  • Continually improve emergency management and response training incorporating new ideas and lessons learned.
  • Develop an After Action Report after exercises, drills and significant events that impact the campus. The After Action Report results will provide an opportunity to identify weaknesses, enhance strengths and improve capabilities.
  • San Jose State University has a full time Emergency Services Coordinator under the guidance of an Emergency Manager (UPD Operations Bureau Commander). The Emergency Services Coordinator will ensure San Jose State employees are aware of this plan, and are appropriately trained.

Ham Radio Club

The San Jose State University Amateur Radio Club (SJSUARC) is a resource that can be used to supplement SJSU existing communications systems in case of a large scale disaster.  The club is open to students at San Jose State University who are interested in Ham Radio, radio communications, and RF. You do not need a ham license to join. Staff and non-students are also invited to join.  The purpose of the SJSUARC is to promote amateur radio and encourage students, faculty and staff at San Jose State University to use amateur radio.  Founded in 1929, it is the oldest club at San Jose State University.


Video Surveillance

There are a wide variety of video camera systems deployed on campus. In 2013, UPD instituted a protocol for the review of requests for video surveillance cameras in an attempt to control the proliferation and ensure uniformity of standards.  (These parameters will likely be impacted by the new CSU security camera policy in draft format today).

  • Currently UPD requires a minimum video recording quality of 720p at 15 Frames Per Second, with a 45 day retention period.
  • The Residence Halls are currently protected by three video surveillance systems, monitoring primarily the entry/exit paths and corridors within the buildings.
  • The Residential parking garage beneath Campus Village Building B is monitored by several surveillance cameras. 
  • The exterior and interior of the library is monitored by a system managed by University Police.  It maintains footage for 45 days.
  • Various other buildings are monitored by proprietary surveillance systems including the Student Services Center, University Police Headquarters, Event Center, Student Union, 210 N. 4th Street, Moss Landing Marine Labs, Engineering, Business , MacQuarrie Hall, Computer Center, some IT Closets/Server Rooms, Hammer Theatre, Music and the old Health Building.
  • Several projects are currently in progress.
Area Security Cameras
Parking Garage

12 cameras — License Plate Reader (ALPR)
15 cameras — Pedestrian access point   
10 cameras — Vehicle access point
38 cameras — Vehicle and pedestrian access total

SRAC

67 cameras

Student Union

75 cameras

SWC

29 cameras


South Campus Issues

We are assisting Athletics with the process of insuring the pay for all security personnel is consistent with other venues and regulations. Other initiatives that will assist in alleviating public safety concerns include:

  • Non-sworn event security staff (private vendor) must be increased significantly, in particular to address issues in the tailgating area.
  • Athletics and Student Affairs must collaborate to implement a robust public awareness campaign regarding tailgating rules and regulations prior to the start of the football season and at each home game.

Campus Safety Alerts

Emergency Notification/Timely Warning Systems

AlertSJSU is the campus emergency notification system. In case of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees on the campus, AlertSJSU will be utilized to send text messages, voicemails and emails with a brief description of the situation and instructions if possible. For SJSU students AlertSJSU is an opt-out program. For faculty and staff members, it is an opt-in program. The campus recently changed AlertSJSU vendors from Blackboard Connect to Rave Alert.

Timely warnings are sent when a Clery reportable crime occurs on campus that presents a serious and continuing threat to students and staff. Timely warnings are typically sent by email, faxed to offices with instructions to post in a conspicuous location and physically posting flyers in garages and other public locations.

Clery Act Compliance Reporting

As a recognized California State Law Enforcement Agency, UPD is required to provide the Department of Justice with a monthly report containing the number and type of criminal offenses committed within our jurisdiction, as well as citations issued and arrests made. This information is forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in their annual publication, Crime in the United States

The Jeanne Clery Act requires SJSU to provide additional information to the community. Crimes that must be reported include:

  • Aggravated assault
  • Arson
  • Burglary
  • Disciplinary referrals for liquor, drug and weapons offenses
  • Hate crimes (by classification)
  • Manslaughter
  • Motor vehicle theft
  • Murder
  • Robbery
  • Sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible)

The Clery Act requires any SJSU campus official having knowledge of criminal acts (as defined by the Clery Act) to report that information to UPD for inclusion in our Annual Safety Report.

UPD asks all campus counselors to encourage their clients, when appropriate, to report criminal violations on a voluntary, confidential basis, for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. Any information received in response is included in our Annual Safety Report.

Crime statistics for the City of San José are not included in this publication. The City of San José is one of the safest large cities in the United States. Crime statistics for the San José Police Department can be found at SJ Police Official Crime Statistics

Body-worn Camera Policy

Review of Body-worn camera videos by the Vice President of Administration & Finance anytime there is:

  • A significant injury (police, suspect or 3rd party);
  • Hospitalization (police, suspect or 3rd party); or
  • A significant Incident occurs in a public space &/or is observed by others

The next business day, a review of the video with UPD Chief & VP of Administration & Finance.

No footage can be released off campus until it has been reviewed by VP of Administration & Finance and campus counsel.

Mass Audio Alerts    

In the event of a significant event posing an immediate threat to the campus requiring an emergency notification, the most effective means of alerting the greatest number of community members is likely to be an audio alert system.

  • Campus Emergency Broadcast System (EBS): UPD has the capability of utilizing campus VoIP telephones to broadcast emergency notifications. This can be done campus-wide, by pre-designated sectors or individual buildings. However this system is limited primarily to campus offices.
  • Clocks / Audio Announcements (Classroom and Hallway audio speakers): In order to ensure CEBS emergency notifications extend into the classrooms and hallways, additional speakers will be installed to maximize coverage. This Emergency Broadcast System project includes:

Project Scope

  • Provide coverage for EBS around classrooms and other required spaces
  • Purchase and install speakers in designated locations

Status-Progress since Last Meeting

  • Combined with classroom talking clock project
  • Provided initial estimate to FD&O (400 classrooms/~$650K)
  • Received project funding authorization

Next Steps

  • Finalize project plan and timeline by 1/31/17
  • Complete detailed scope of work/release bid
  • Target complete date:  7/31/17
  • Exterior audio speakers: In order to extend the CEBS emergency notifications to the exterior portions of campus, a system of external speakers will be installed.

Silent Alarms/Panic Alarms

The campus has purchased and built a silent alert system which allows for a silent panic button to appear on all campus desk phones. 

Several critical locations on campus are protected by security alarms and/or silent panic buttons, which report to University Police. 

  • Employees in the Student Wellness Center wear wireless emergency panic buttons.
  • The campus currently has in excess of 400 hard-wired panic alarms that feed into UPD Dispatch. On-going requests for panic alarms led to the implementation of Silent Alarm, which will allow the use of a specific button on campus VoIP phones to be used as a covert duress alarm. Activation of Silent Alarm will also allow UPD dispatchers to monitor what is occurring in the office. Unfortunately technical issues specifically relating to the difficulty in integrating Silent Alarm into the dispatch system has prevented implementation. In its current form, it is cumbersome and inefficient for the dispatchers to use.

Crime Prevention

As mandated by the Chancellor’s Office, all University Computers are equipped with a link to the “CSU Red Folder,” which provides helpful information about response protocol in assisting students, faculty & staff in distress.

Training Orientation

UPD offers safety presentations at New Student Orientation each semester as well as to New Employee Orientation. These presentations are designed to give new students an overview of the types of crime that can exist on campus, with tips and strategies to avoid becoming a victim. The message is that many of the crimes on the campus are crimes of opportunity; there are basic steps that students can take to protect themselves, such as locking doors in the residence hall or using the escort service provided by UPD when walking alone across campus at night. The presentations stress reporting suspicious activity and crime to the police.

Bike Registration

Bike registration is done through UPD utilizing the National Bike Registry (NBR), an internet-based system.  There was initially public outreach on NBR, but the response was minimal.  Bikes are also registered through Alternative Transportation Solutions when community members request access to the bike corrals.

Safety Escorts/Spartan SafeRide

Supplementing the Police Patrol Division, UPD also maintains an extensive Public Safety Assistant (PSA) Program, in addition to a volunteer student Police Cadet program.  PSAs are pre-screened and undergo a field training program prior to working on their own.  PSAs wear distinctive uniforms, are equipped with police radios and provide the campus community with many additional services, such as:

  • Patrolling the Residence Halls and University Housing Services facilities
  • Patrolling University facilities to enhance campus safety
  • Unlocking services when a facility needs to be made available to students, staff and visitors

Through the Safety Escort Program, PSAs provide escorts for members of the campus community up to 2 blocks off-campus, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Typically, a trained, uniformed PSA equipped with a radio will walk you to your destination. However, in the event that a PSA is not available, a police officer will provide the escort.

The SJSU Safe Ride Program extends the escort distance beyond the two blocks to Interstate 280 to the south, Julian Street to the north, First Street to the west and Sixteenth Street to the east. The Safe Ride Program is available Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

If you feel unsafe walking through campus, you can request an escort, or the Safe Ride Program by using any Blue Light or elevator phone. You can also dial 4-2000 from any on-campus phone or 408-924-2000 from any outside phone. You will be connected to a UPD dispatcher who will arrange the escort.

Rave Guardian Public Safety App

  • Opt in for Android and Apple platform
  • Allows user to load Guardians (up to 5) as safety monitors
  • Set safety timers and when one is activated and goes off it automatically notifies the Guardians and UPD directly
  • GPS location based on cell towers
  • Allows for text based crime reporting
  • Allows the user to send photos with the text crime reports
  • Direct dial to smart 911 and to UPD with one button (but App has to be open)

TipNow

TipNow is an anonymous suspicious activity reporting system that allows community members to communicate with UPD via text messages, email or voice-mail.

UPD Website

UPD will be working with an outside vendor to re-structure and update the UPD website to make it more organized and user-friendly. Research has shown that the website is accessed at a much higher rate than initially believed, but feedback has indicated that it is difficult to navigate.

Training Videos

The San Jose State University Police Department provides the RUN, HIDE, DEFEND training in an effort to better prepare our campus.  Since an active shooter situation is often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.  San Jose State University Police, Active Shooter Training website: Run, Hide, Fight. The Chancellor’s Office has agreed to fund a system wide Active Shooter Response video that the CSU chiefs will be collaborating to produce.

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD)

A few times each semester, UPD offers a 12 unit self-defense class designed specifically for females. Although there is a physical segment in which participants practice against an officer in a Red Man suit, the primary focus is on developing awareness and a safety mindset. [pptx]

Mitigating Workplace Violence

Working together we can have a positive impact on violence in the workplace.

OSHA Workplace Violence Fact Sheet (pdf) [pdf]

Chief’s Student Advisory Board

Started in the Fall of 2016, this group meets quarterly through the year to provide input & feedback from Students to UPD.

Continued Proactive discussions w/ Greek Houses

Blue-Lights (300+)

Blue Light phones offer a direct connection to UPD Dispatch for both emergency and non-emergency requests. If a Blue Light phone receiver is removed from its cradle and the dispatcher cannot elicit a response from the caller, an officer is dispatched immediately to the location of the phone.

Bluelight emergency telephones are located all across campus, including in the residence halls and on every floor of the parking garages. They are identified by a blue light and signage. There are several types of bluelight phones around campus.  Some bluelight phones are activated by just pushing the button and talking. Other types of bluelight phones require you to pick up the handset and use it like a regular telephone.

All bluelight and elevator phones ring directly into the UPD Communication Center and are answered in the same priority as a 9-1-1 call. The phones require 2 - 3 seconds to connect with the Police Dispatcher. The location of each bluelight phone is automatically identified when the Police Dispatcher receives the call.  In the event that you cannot speak, just push the button or knock the handset off the hook and UPD Officers will be dispatched to your location.  Police Dispatchers can hear background noise, so any noise that you can make regarding the emergency is helpful.

  • Residence Halls (6+20+7+3+1+CV2)
  • Around Campus 220+ interior phones
  • External Phones: 31 Main Campus, 9 South Campus

Citizen RIMS Map
Citizen RIMS

San Jose State University Police has just made it easier for our community to look up information about police involved incidents that have recently occurred on or near campus.  The community can view this information by going to the link   https://csusj.crimegraphics.com/2013/default.aspx .  You can also view this information by going to the UPD website and clicking on “Bulletins/Crime Charts/BOLs” found under the Campus Crime Information section.  We hope you find this new tool helpful.  Using Citizen RIMS software, the University Police Department makes crime data available to the public via the Internet. The idea is to make as much information as possible available in an easy to use format.

Features:

Past Activity. This is pin mapping for historical police activity data with the user picking the date span to be mapped

Crime. This is a crime data pin mapping feature where the user picks a date range and the crime types/categories to be mapped.  Crime data equates to cases.  Clicking on a mapped case icon shows more info about each case.

Missing Persons. This shows active Missing Persons information reported to UPD with pictures where available.

Stolen Vehicles. This lists recently stolen vehicles reported to UPD.

Crime Charts. This function summarizes Uniform Crime Report (UCR) crime data in easily understood charts, with year to year comparisons.

Bulletin.  This section provides access to the UPD Crime Bulletin which is released everyday displaying information about the case reports taken in the last 24 hours.

Daily Crime/Fire Log Bulletin. This feature displays the Clery Act crime data and fire log information for the last 60 days.  There is a two day delay in new additions.  Case status is automatically updated when status changes occur.

About.  This takes you to the UPD website

Alerts. This feature lets site visitors subscribe to a free service that emails new incident/crime data on a daily or weekly basis.

Spartan Express Tracking Mobile App

Website

Project Description: Real-time mapping of shuttles

Project Scope:

  • Includes Park & Ride shuttles and Safe Ride evening shuttles
  • Mobile phone app and Web based displays
  • Other features TBD -- Safe Ride requests, estimated arrival times

Status-Progress since Last Meeting

  • Identified 3rd party vendors and one SJSU student project

Next Steps:

  • Meet with each solution vendor/students to review overall solution and features
  • Identify project team and key UPD contacts
  • Develop selection process including RFP as required