LSU’s Office of Public Safety kicked off a month of safety beginning with the “See Something Say Something” event outside the Student Union that highlighted safety resources available at the University. One special focus was the LSU Shield mobile app which alerts police suspicious or criminal activity.
The app acts as a resource allowing faculty, staff and students to call or message for help, report crimes or communicate with emergency contacts through a safety beacon if one fails to reach their destination safely.
Shield allows users to contact LSUPD, EMS or the fire department with the click of a screen button. The program began in 2014, and the Office of Public Safety reports that more than 1,000 Shield downloads have been made.
“[It] is a great tool to expedite requests for emergency assistance and initiate non-emergency reporting,” LSUPD spokesperson Lt. Kevin Scott said.
Dialing 911 does not directly call LSUPD. The call must be relayed. The LSU Shield app not only makes direct contact but also gives authorities the caller’s exact location.
Because of campus WiFi availability, authorities will know the wireless access point from which the message originated, ensuring responders will get to the correct building.
The University’s preventative slogan “See Something, Say Something” can be aided through the app’s iReport function, which allows users to anonymously report suspicious behavior. According to Scott, the most common reports made through the app so far have been theft and missing items.
Tanner O’Neil, a computer engineering sophomore, said LSU Shield is the right tool for anyone during an emergency. If he had to choose between phoning in a call for help or using iReport, he said he would choose the app.
With cooperative efforts among LSUPD, LSU Emergency Operations and Student Government, the LSU Shield app is available for a free download through both the Apple App Store and Google Play store.