In last couple of weeks, Georgia Southern University has experienced numerous on and off campus incidents that have prompted concerns about public safety. As the University System of Georgia plans to add a total of 51 campus police officers this year, according to myajc.com, some faculty, staff and students might be wondering what GS is doing to address the concerns.

Though it is unknown if any of the 51 police officers will make their way to Georgia Southern University, Laura McCullough, Georgia Southern Police Chief, is dedicated to keeping students and faculty safe on the GS campus.

“We have implemented a new safety feature in the LiveSafe app which is available at no cost to anyone with a smart phone,” McCullough said.

The LiveSafe app makes it easier for users to be connected with emergency departments, whether that is the university police department or a 911 dispatcher.

The app also has features such as text messaging, video and picture messaging and voice messaging.

Other than this app, the campus police department has not implemented any new safety procedures for the new school year.

Also, before the semester began, campus police underwent various training scenarios including an active shooter training which shut down the Henderson Library for a few hours.

“I like how the police are on top of their game,” Michael Bennett, undeclared freshman, said.

Off campus incidents have also become strong concerns recently with break-ins and robberies happening at off-campus housing.

These incidents are technically under the jurisdiction of the Statesboro PD, but campus police have teamed up with local law enforcement to keep students and residents safe.

“We are working closely with Statesboro PD to assist them with additional patrols around the off campus complexes and providing support and cooperation in their investigation,” McCullough said.

For anyone with questions related to safety on campus, there are many opportunities for those questions to be answered, such as the FAQ page for the campus police. If you have a more specific question or your question is simply not listed on the FAQ page, students have the opportunity to sign up to have “Coffee with the Chief”.

This meeting provides students with a chance to sit down and talk with the Campus Police Chief and have a one-on-one conversation in a comfortable surrounding.

Despite the safety measures that are already in place on and off campus, students are still urged to follow basic safety tips.

McCullough said, “It is important to remember that your safety starts with you. Take time to do the simple things, such as locking your door and not leaving your personal items unattended.”