Important Information and Resources

Morgan State University Police and Public Safety Provides police coverage and response 24 hours a day every day of the year. The Morgan State University Police and Public Safety staff includes sworn police officers, civilian personnel, police communication operators, parking enforcement officers, and security officers. Morgan State University campus and any property Morgan State University leases, owns, and or operates not to mitigate the authority and responsibility they have to react to criminal acts which they observe. The Police Department responds to criminal offenses, service requests, complaints, and incidents.

Police and Public Safety Services

The Department of Police and Public Safety is directly responsible for law, order and security services at Morgan State University within The Division of Finance and Management. The department is responsible for delivery of these services to a rapidly expanding community of students, employees, contractors and visitors.

Access to Campus Facilities

1. Morgan State University is situated on an open campus in the northeastern portion of Baltimore City. The University comprises approximately 152 acres and is impacted on its boundaries by surrounding residential communities and retail activities. The overall public safety program of the University is focused on providing proactive public safety activities to a population, which includes approximately 930 regular staff, administrators and faculty, in addition to over 400 contractual employees.

2. Physical access to various campus facilities and activities is permitted by means of an MSU Bear Necessity identification card, which is issued to each member of the Morgan State University community. This Bear Necessity Morgan State University identification card is the primary means of identification and the consistent display of the card on an outer garment is encouraged. Upon request of a police officer and/or staff member, the identification card must be shown. During times when the University is officially closed, individuals who are seeking access to campus facilities must first come to the Police Department to register in order to gain access to these facilities.

3. Residential Life facilities are staffed by employees of the Office of Resident Life who are responsible for controlling access to all residential facilities, some of which may be located off the main campus. In addition, continuous exterior security is provided through foot, bicycle and/or motorized patrols by uniformed and/or plain-clothes police officers as well as contractual security personnel.

4. The University makes every effort to ensure that campus facilities are designed and maintained in such a manner as to promote safety and security, and reduce the opportunity for criminal activity. In this light, emphasis is focused on protective lighting, landscaping, grounds keeping and in identifying areas of the campus which may contribute to conditions that may be conducive to crime. In addition, to this effort, sophisticated security alarm systems are employed in certain areas of the campus to bolster the efforts of our security patrols.

Student Housing

On Campus
There are seven (7) residence halls on campus. All entrances, to residence halls, are secured or are monitored by Resident Life Staff. A Resident Director and several Resident Assistants administer each residence hall.

The Department of Police and Public Safety, in conjunction with the Office of Resident Life, is responsible for developing and implementing procedures and programs to provide effective and responsible safety and security within the residence halls. In addition to access, control procedures, established by the Office of Resident Life and the Department of Police and Public Safety, provide continuous external security and police patrols in areas adjacent to residence halls.

Every effort is made to ensure that all residence halls are free from uninvited visitors and guests, but it is necessary that the residents themselves take an active role in making sure strangers are reported to Office of Resident Life personnel and/or Department of Police and Public Safety personnel, as well as making sure that doors are not left unsecured (propped open).

• Hall staff and residents are encouraged to challenge/ report the presence of strangers in the residence halls.
• Residents are held accountable for the actions of their guests.
• A resident must accompany all visitors and/or guests at all times while these individuals are in the resident halls.

Off Campus
The University currently operates one off-campus leased housing facility within one mile of the campus. In addition, many students reside as tenants in private homes within close proximity of the campus.

Crime prevention programs emphasizing security and indicating what residents can do to help themselves are provided for students who reside in university controlled off campus housing units.

The Department of Police and Public Safety through a memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore City Police Department share concurrent jurisdiction of the off campus university leased student residences. The two departments have a mutual working relationship, providing each other with patrol assistance and back-up as necessary. In addition, the Department of Police and Public Safety operates a police sub-station at the off-campus University leased facility when occupied by students during critical hours. Educational programs emphasizing security and indicating what residents can do to help themselves will be provided by the Office of Resident Life, the Department of Police and Public Safety, and other campus and off-campus services as appropriate to meet the goal of this policy.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy

Morgan State University is dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge and, as such, expects all members of the University Community to behave in a manner conducive to that end. Faculty, staff, and students must maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. Illegal and/or abusive use of drugs, adversely affect the mission of the University and is strictly prohibited. The University recognizes that the distribution, sale, administration, and possession of controlled and dangerous substances, related drug paraphernalia, and the unlawful use of alcohol on University property and/or at all University sponsored activities is strictly prohibited. The Department of Police and Public Safety will strictly enforce all laws with respect to controlled and dangerous substances. Any person found to be in violation of policies addressing the distribution, sale, administration and/or possession of controlled and dangerous substances, on or off campus, will be subjected to suspension/ expulsion and termination of employment, as appropriate.

Those students found to be in violation of policies addressing alcohol and underage drinking on campus, will be referred for disciplinary action which may include suspension and/or expulsion from the University. Employees found in violation of this policy will be referred for appropriate disciplinary action under the rules governing discipline.

Morgan State University is dedicated to providing a campus environment free of the illegal and or abusive use of alcohol and/or drugs. The illegal and/or abusive use of drugs and/or alcohol by members of the campus community jeopardizes the safety of the individual and undermines the academic process. Morgan State University is therefore committed to having a campus that is free of the illegal and/or abusive use of drugs and alcohol. In keeping with this commitment, it is the policy of the University that the illegal and/or abusive use of drugs or alcohol is prohibited on University property or as part of University activities. This policy is consistent with the policy statements regarding alcohol and drug enforcement, which were required by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Education Program

Consistent with its educational mission, the University also assists its members in finding alternatives to alcoholic beverages by promoting social interactions and stress reduction, and it provides services and resources for community members who experience alcohol related difficulties.
Morgan State University provides informative prevention education programs throughout the year through a variety of departmentally sponsored workshops and lectures on alcohol and drug related issues. These programs are made available through the following:

• Counseling Center - ext. 3130
• Substance Abuse Education Prevention Program - ext. 3043
• Student Health Services - ext. 3236
• Student Volunteer Organization - ext. 3043

Police Services

The Police and Public Safety Department provides 24 hours-per-day police protection and responds to reports of emergencies, criminal matters and security concerns occurring on the main campus and/or at other locations leased or owned by Morgan State University. MSU police officers are vested with full law enforcement powers and responsibilities identical to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. They have met criteria as set by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission. The officers are trained at approved police academies and receive additional in-service and specialized training in first aid, firearms, defensive tactics, legal updates, evidence gathering, traffic accident investigation, crime prevention and drug suppression operations.

The department is responsible for a full range of public safety services requiring police intervention. These services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Criminal incident reports
• Criminal investigations
• Enforcement of all laws concerning the possession and/or the use of controlled and dangerous substances
• Enforcement of all laws regulating underage drinking
• Critical incident emergencies
• Enforcement of all traffic laws up to and including the investigation of traffic accidents
• Enforcement of all laws concerning the possession of weapons on campus

The department prepares and submits criminal incident reports to a statewide computer system and the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), in which all law enforcement agencies in the state has access. In addition, the department provides information on arrests and serious crimes to the Maryland State Police on a monthly basis for inclusion in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Report (UCR). The serial number of all vehicles and office equipment stolen, from campus, are reported nationwide through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Actual and/or potential criminal activities, as well as other emergencies, can be reported directly by any student, faculty member, staff member, or visitor to the Morgan State University Police Department (MSUPD) by dialing extension 3103 for emergencies or extension 3100 for non-emergencies from any campus telephone, or 443.885.3103/3100 from any other telephone. By dialing these numbers the caller will be provided with direct contact with a police dispatcher. In addition, emergency telephones have been installed at selected locations throughout the University campus. A confidential Crime Tips email address can be accessed for the reporting of information by emailing msupolice@morgan.edu. Members of the University community are urged to notify the Morgan State University Police Department of any criminal activity or other emergencies occurring on campus.

The department is also staffed with full-time administrative personnel augmented by contractual and part-time work-study students. These personnel receive departmental training and assist the sworn personnel by performing non-law enforcement support functions. In addition, a supplemental security firm is under contract to provide security officers to support overall campus security efforts and special events/ activities held on campus.

Crime Prevention

The Department of Police and Public Safety maintains an active, viable and comprehensive crime prevention program, supported by its sworn police officers. Crime prevention officers are successful attendees of a variety of national as well as local crime prevention programs and activities.

The department publishes a newsletter and provides presentations to the campus community on a frequent basis to educate community members on police policies, procedures and public safety issues. Students and employees are alerted to recurring and/or significant crime problems being experienced on campus and are provided with useful information that may reduce their vulnerability to criminal acts.

The department publishes pamphlets on various topics of crime prevention that are available to all students, faculty and staff.

• Police Protection and Security Services
• General Crime Prevention Techniques
• Rape and Sexual Assault which includes
• Date Rape
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse

The department conducts sessions each semester on the above topics. Information on safety and security is provided to students, faculty, and staff members regularly through meetings, seminars, bulletins, crime alerts and the newsletter.

The Physical Plant Department maintains the buildings and grounds of the University with a concern for public safety. It inspects campus facilities regularly promptly making repairs when necessary. They respond to reports of potential safety and security hazards, such as broken windows and locks. The Department of Police and Public Safety assists the Physical Plant personnel by reporting potential safety and security hazards. Students as well as faculty and staff may call the Physical Plant Department (x3220) to report any safety and security hazards.

Except for residence halls, most University facilities are open to the public during the day and evening hours when classes are in session. During the times that the University is officially closed, University buildings are generally locked and only authorized faculty, staff and students with proper identification are admitted.

Sexual Assaults

Sexual assaults, including date/ acquaintance rape is a very serious concern of the Morgan State University administration. Students, faculty and/or staff who are sexually assaulted on campus should contact the Department of Police and Public Safety immediately. The MSUPD will take appropriate action when such offenses occur. The MSUPD will also provide assistance in obtaining appropriate medical attention, including transportation to the nearest designated hospital. The Sexual Assault Center at Mercy Hospital, located on Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland, is the nearest state designated rape crisis center.

If the MSUPD receives information that a sex offender is in the area of the University, it will make every effort to verify that information. It will make inquiries to the State of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services through the following internet address: www.dpscs.state.md.us.

If any member of the Morgan State University Community has any questions and/or needs any additional information they can contact:

Morgan State University Police Department
443.885.3100

Important Telephone Numbers

Morgan State University Police

• Emergency - 443.885.3103
• Non- Emergency/ Information - 443.885.3100
• Criminal Investigations - 443.885.3117
• Crime Prevention - 443.885.4888

Baltimore City Police

• Emergency - 911
• Non-Emergencies - 311
• Northeastern District - 410-396-2444
• Community Relations - 410-889-6499
• Drug Hotline - 410-685-DRUG

Baltimore City Fire Department

• Emergency -911
• Ambulance - 911

House of Ruth (Batterers Program) - 410-889-7884
Sexual Assault Recovery Program (Hotline) - 410-366-7273

The following information is given in order to comply with the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act of Campus security Policy and Campus Statistics Act. The link to the Clery Act is http://ope.ed.gov/security.