Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Dear UNH Community,

As we move through the fall 2020 semester, we want to remind you of two resources to support you, whether you are on campus or remote.  These two apps can help you, your friends, or your family.

Rave Guardian, available for free & confidential download from the App Store or Google Play:

  • Find out when campus is closed due to inclement weather.
  • Text with UNH Emergency Dispatch or submit anonymous information about campus safety issues.
  • Connect with a friend or a dispatcher via GPS when walking alone at night.

uSafeUS®, (developed by UNH students, staff and faculty) is available for free & confidential download from the App Store or Google Play:

  • Use Time to Leave™ to give yourself a reason to leave an uncomfortable situation.
  • Find Helpful Answers about sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
  • Locate valuable on-campus and off-campus resources 24/7 to help yourself or a friend.

Additionally, we are urging community members to also file online crime reports, or request a police report or other related record, using online services.  With the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, community updates and activities are rapidly changing for all of us.  Utilizing these online services will increase efficiencies within our department while enhancing services to campus community members.

This service provides a fast and efficient way for community members to report a variety of incidents such as phishing scams, lost property, theft or minor hit-and-run accidents to the UNH Police Department, and can be done using an online platform.  Rather than visit the department in-person or have an officer dispatched to you, anyone can now report minor incidents and other incident reports, online.

Please visit https://www.unh.edu/upd/online-crime-reporting  to access the online crime reporting.

“Online community reporting and requesting allows officers to stay focused on the immediate needs of the community and reduces the risk of exposure to officers and residents for non-critical reports," said Chief Paul Dean.  “We wanted to explore some of the more common incident report types that oftentimes impacted members of our campus community.  Due to the increased need for our officers and community to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, we have recently added additional report types that can now be submitted online.”  In most cases, an officer will follow-up with the individual filing an online crime report via a face-to-face communication platform, so the individual can have direct access to one of their police officers, to make sure all of their questions are answered.  “It is critical to me, that our community has direct access to their police department, and this is another way for us to make sure our commitment to the public is ensured,” Chief Dean said.

We encourage our UNH community to use the reporting system to report minor crimes and events which occur on-campus discreetly from the comfort of their own homes.  By going online, you can personally aid in encouraging physical distancing, and help your police department meet the public safety needs of campus community members.

 This notification is from the University of New Hampshire Emergency Alert system.  For general information on UNH Alerts, go to https://www.unh.edu/upd/campus-alerts