In light of a recent murder and assaults on 31st Street in Austin, the Austin Police Department and St. Edward’s University Police Department are warning citizens to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings when walking city streets. Citizens are asked to immediately report suspicious individuals or activities by calling the St. Edward’s University Police Department at 512-448-8444 or the Austin Police Department at 911. It is a good idea to program in the University Police Department’s phone number into your cell phones contact list for speed dialing.

All citizens should do their best to be in control of their own safety by not walking alone at night, and keeping ear buds out of both ears while listening to music. Do not text or talk on the phone while walking. Stay alert and focused to what is going on around you. If you are being approached and feel uncomfortable, turn and walk or run in the opposite direction. If you are grabbed shout loudly, "No", or "Leave Me Alone", or anything you can think of to attract attention. It is important to make as much noise as possible. Do not be talked into "going" with the attacker. Fight back if being pulled into a car and run in the opposite direction that the vehicle is facing. Contact University Police Department for escorts if you are alone. Ensure you have locked your doors and windows to your residence …even when you are inside. Do not open your doors to anyone you do not know.

St. Edward’s University Police encourages women to enroll in the campus RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) class. The 12 hour self-defense course is taught by Officer Alice Gilroy and is open to all women over the age of 12 years old. The RAD course teaches easy, effective, and proven self-defense tactics. It is not a martial arts program and women at any stage of physical fitness will benefit from the course. The next course is Feb. 25 & 26, and March 3 & 4.

For more information on the RAD course and how to sign up go to:

http://think.stedwards.edu/police/rape-aggression-defense

Operation ID

To help University Police in their efforts to identify suspicious persons it is important for everyone to adhere to University policy and carry your university identification on you when you are on campus.

To help protect your personal property, keep your car and resident hall doors locked at all times. Do not display valuable items where thieves can see them. Have all valuable items engraved with your driver’s license number or some other identification number. University Police have engravers and will engrave your property for free. Bring property to the police department for engraving. If the property is too large to carry, University Police will come to your office or campus residence to engrave.