Follow-Up on Police Statement: Message from the President and Provost
March 10, 2022
Dear UTRGV community,
We understand that many of you have questions and concerns following Tuesday’s Police Statement. Therefore, we want to inform you of the safety protocols of the UTRGV Police Department (UTRGV PD) and to remind you of safety precautions you can follow to help ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.
Remember, protecting our campuses is a collective effort, and all of us play a critical role in safeguarding the campuses and locations we love every day.
Safety Precautions
UTRGV PD continues to monitor the situation closely. Based on the latest information they have gathered, there continues to be no immediate threat to the university community at this time. If the situation changes, UTRGV will notify the university community.
Out of an abundance of caution, UTRGV PD has implemented the following safety precautions:
- They issued the employee a Criminal Trespass Warning for all UTRGV campuses and locations.
- They increased patrol of all UTRGV campuses and locations.
- They issued a "Be On The Lookout" (BOLO) alert to UTRGV Police Patrol and Public Safety Officers, and the Edinburg Police Department.
As always, UTRGV PD encourages all students, faculty, and staff to follow these precautions when accessing one of our campuses or locations:
- Walk with your head up, make eye contact with others, have confidence, and move at a steady pace.
- Stay in well-lit, heavily traveled areas. Avoid alleys, dark parking lots, or secluded spaces.
- If you wear headphones while walking, keep the volume low so you can hear other noises.
- Avoid texting and walking to ensure your attention is on where you are going or who is coming toward you.
- Don’t walk alone at night. Walk in groups as there is safety in numbers.
- If you are going to a particular destination, let someone know you are on your way and approximately what time you will arrive.
- If you are carrying a wallet, keep it in your purse or bag and hold it close to your body. Do not leave personal items unattended at any time.
- Vary your route. Take a different path and avoid becoming predictable.
Additionally, if you see any suspicious activity or person, immediately contact the UTRGV Police Department at 956-882-4911. In case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
You can also contact UTRGV PD and immediately share your location by downloading the free Campus Shield mobile app.
Communication Protocols
As you may know, UTRGV PD sends Timely Warning Notifications regarding situations in which there is an imminent, impending, or immediate threat to the university community.
In this situation, when UTRGV PD was first notified of the threat, its initial investigation into the matter revealed that there was no imminent, impending, or immediate threat. While employment privacy laws prohibit the public sharing of how UTRGV PD made that determination, rest assured, we immediately addressed the threat when it arose.
It is also important to understand that employment privacy laws prohibit what information we can provide to our own university community, including such details as the employees’ name and job title. Our media partners are not restricted by privacy laws, and in most cases, they are able to provide more specific information than the university. In these instances, we work with our media partners to ensure the information being shared is accurate and that the university has had an opportunity to respond, if necessary.
Above all, please know that we take these threats very seriously and that the safety and success of all our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority.
Sincerely,
Guy Bailey
President
Janna Arney
Executive Vice President and Provost