Policy: Policy 10-2-2: Crime Alert Policy Date Adopted: Mar 15, 2011
Department: Public Safety Contact: Director
Statement: The Western Nevada College director of Public Safety or a designee will publish timely warning notices for the college community to notify members about serious crimes that occur on campus, when it is determined that the incident may pose an on-going threat to members of the WNC community. These warnings will be distributed if the incident is reported either to the WNC Public Safety Department directly or indirectly through a campus security authority or local law enforcement authorities. This message is being sent in compliance with the timely warning provision of Title II of Public Law 101-542 34, CFR 668.46 (e), the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act. The department issues/posts Crime Alerts for incidents of : Criminal homicide Aggravated assault (cases involving assaults among known parties, such as two individuals fighting which results in an aggravated injury, will be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if the individual is believed to be an on-going threat to the larger WNC community) Robbery involving force or violence (cases including pick- pocketing, theft, and purse snatching will typically not result in the issuance of a Crime Alert, but will be assessed on a case by case basis) Sexual Assault (considered on a case by case basis depending on the facts of the case, when and where the incident occurred, when it was reported, and the amount information known by the WNC Public Safety Department) Major incidents of arson Other crimes or threats as determined necessary by the director of Public Safety, or a designee. The description of subject(s) in a case will only be included in the alert if there is a sufficient amount of detail to describe the individual. If the only known descriptors are sex and race, that will not be included in the alert. If known, vehicle descriptions will also be included. Time permitting, WNC Public Safety will draft an email containing the proposed Crime Alert and forward it to the Vice President and General Counsel for HR and Legal Services or the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services. If time is critical, a phone call will precede the e-mail. The Vice President and General Counsel for HR and Legal Services or the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services will review and revise the text as needed, and then transmit the email containing the Crime Alert to the college community as a blast email. An alert will also be placed on the WNC Web site. A phone authorization by the Vice President and General Counsel for HR and Legal Services or the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services will allow WNC Public Safety to distribute the alert by a blast e-mail. Updates to the WNC community about any particular case resulting in a crime alert also may be distributed electronically via blast email or posted on the college Web site. At the same time WNC Public Safety forwards the email containing the proposed Crime Alert to Vice President and General Counsel for HR and Legal Services or the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, WNC Public Safety will also forward it to all executive staff for their review and possible distribution to whomever they deem necessary and appropriate. Crime Alerts may also be posted in campus buildings, when deemed necessary. When a Crime Alert is posted in campus buildings, it shall be printed on orange paper and be posted in the lobby/entrance area of the affected building(s) for seven (7) days or until the threat is no longer present. A list of the buildings where Crime Alerts may be posted is maintained by the WNC Public Safety Department Crime Alerts are filed in the case jacket with the corresponding incident report and are available in the Public Safety office. Crime alerts will be posted as soon as possible after an incident occurs and it is determined a timely warning to the college community is needed. The department does not issue Crime Alerts for the above listed crimes if: 1. The subject(s) are apprehended and the threat of imminent danger for members of the WNC community have been mitigated by the apprehension. 2. If a report was not filed with WNC Public Safety or if WNC Public Safety was not notified of the crime in a manner that would allow the department to post a "timely" warning for the community. A general guideline will include a report that is filed more than five days after the date of the alleged incident may not allow WNC Public Safety to post a "timely" warning to the community. This type of situation will be evaluated on a case by case basis. The department also maintains a daily crime log which is normally updated each business day and contains all crimes reported to WNC Public Safety. The information will be posted on the WNC Public Safety Department Web site.

Date(s) Revised   Date(s) Reviewed