Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to report all crimes and public safety related incidents to the Gettysburg College Campus Safety in a timely manner. Campus Safety has been designated by Gettysburg College as the official office for campus crime reporting. Campus Safety strongly encourages the accurate and prompt reporting of crimes. This publication focuses on Campus Safety because it has primary responsibility for patrolling the Gettysburg College campus. However, criminal incidents or incidents off campus can be reported to the local Gettysburg Borough Police Department.
To report a crime or emergency, members of the community should:
- Call Campus Safety by dialing (717)337-6911 or on campus extension 6911.
- Report in person to Campus Safety at the Campus Safety office located at 51 West Stevens Street.
- Complete the on-line “community concern” reporting form at:
http://www.gettysburg.edu/reportconcern/. - Crimes or emergency situations can be reported to the Gettysburg Borough Police or local emergency services by dialing 911.
Campus Safety responds to all reports of crimes and/or emergencies that occur on-campus or within a campus controlled, owned, operated, and/or recognized facility, building, residence hall, or area. Campus Safety personnel also have the ability to notify Adams County emergency dispatchers of emergency situations occurring on-campus via portable, mobile, and fixed two-way radio communications systems and transferring telephone calls to the 911 emergency center. This system allows Campus Safety to summon assistance from emergency responders if deemed necessary and appropriate. This direct radio link and communications interoperability with the Adams County Communications Center and responding emergency services personnel also affords officers the ability to communicate directly with emergency responders and police personnel without unnecessary delay. Incidents occurring on-campus, within residence halls or non-campus buildings, or on recognized private property adjacent to or contiguous to College owned, controlled, operated, or recognized facilities, buildings, or areas are documented and processed for further investigation and review by the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities and/or the local Gettysburg Borough Police depending upon the nature of the crime or emergency and the involvement of the local Gettysburg Borough Police. Emergency phone lines routed to Campus Safety are staffed 24 hours a day by professional full-time and part-time communications officers. To obtain information or request any public safety or safety escort services, community members should call (717)337-6912 or extension 6912.
Located throughout campus are well-marked exterior phones. These phones access the campus phone system and can be used like any campus extension; for example, to obtain emergency assistance (extension 6911), contact community members, or obtain general information. When placing an emergency call, remember to stay on the line and wait for the dispatcher to end the call. These exterior phones should be used when seeking information and/or reporting activities – to include criminal incidents. If a member of the community finds any of these phones inoperative or vandalized, they should call Campus Safety so that the phone can be repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.
Additional information obtained via any investigation will also be forwarded to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. If assistance is required from the local Gettysburg Borough Police or Gettysburg Fire Department, Campus Safety will contact the appropriate unit. If a sexual assault or rape should occur on campus, staff on scene, including Campus Safety, will offer the victim a wide variety of services. This publication contains information about on and off campus resources and is made available to the Gettysburg College community. The information regarding “resources” is not provided to infer that those resources are “crime reporting entities” for Gettysburg College. Crimes should be reported to Campus Safety to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics and to aid in providing timely warning Campus Safety Alert notices to the community, when appropriate. For example, a crime that was reported only to the Gettysburg College counseling center would not be known to Campus Safety, a campus security authority (CSA), or other College official.
Gettysburg College does not have a policy or practice in place that allows for victims or witnesses to officially report crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis. Crimes reported to the counseling center are confidential and not disclosed in the College’s crime statistics or reporting processes.