The RCC Department of Public Safety is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, to provide public safety services to the college community.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Public Safety Department is to work in partnership with the college community to provide a safe and secure environment in which students, faculty, and staff may work, learn, and live. The Public Safety Department engages in joint problem-solving partnerships to identify issues of community concern and work collaboratively to continuously improve the safety and security of the campus.
Philosophy
Public safety and security is a partnership between Public Safety and the college community. Security is everybody’s business and the Public Safety Department cannot do it alone. Public Safety encourages the college community to practice “See Something, Say Something.” If you see something that doesn’t seem right, or notice a crime being committed, contact the Public Safety Department right away.
The Public Safety Department works diligently to maintain a safe and secure campus. To accomplish this, Public Safety works to achieve three goals:
The Public Safety Department
The Public Safety Department is under the direction of the Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and Auxiliary Services, who is also the Chief of the RCC Police. Assisted by an Assistant Director/Deputy Chief, they administer the public safety function on campus, which is currently carried out by public safety officers from Allied Universal Security Services, Inc., a contracted private security company. The Chief, the Deputy Chief, and the Lieutenant are armed, sworn police officers pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 63, Section 22. They have the power of arrest and have the authority to carry out investigations and serve criminal processes. The Allied Universal civilian public safety officers provide the patrol force. Through fixed posts, walking patrols, and mobile patrols, the public safety officers patrol the campus in a highly visible manner, providing services to the college community and serving as a deterrent to crime. Public safety officers respond to calls for service throughout the campus, enforce college rules, monitor and enforce parking rules, open and close the campus, provide first aid and CPR, provide escorts, and other like functions.
The Public Safety Department is located in Building 3, Room 109. It is staffed 24/7 and maintains a dispatch center where calls for service are received and dispatched. The phone number is 857-701-1310, with an emergency line of 617-541-6404. Dispatchers also monitor life-safety systems including a CCTV system, fire detection and suppression systems, and two-way radios.
The Public Safety Department maintains reports and records in a digital Records Management System as well as a daily log. Each week, a Daily Crime Log is printed for the previous week and posted on the Public Safety webpage. A copy is also kept at the Public Safety Department and is available for viewing in accordance with the Clery Act.
Visit the RCC Public Safety webpage for more information, current crime statistics, and more, at https://www.rcc.mass.edu/explore/public-safety/index.html
Student and Staff Identification Cards
The Public Safety Department issues Identification Cards to students, staff, and faculty of the college. Faculty and Staff ID cards are facilitated by Human Resources when a new employee starts their employment. Students requiring ID cards must bring a form of photo ID and a copy of their schedule issued by the Business Office showing that they are currently enrolled in good standing. Students and Staff are required to show their ID cards to college officials and public safety officers upon request.
Parking Passes
The Public Safety Department issues parking passes to students and staff in good standing. Students and staff should bring their valid ID card and their vehicle registration to the Public Safety Department to be issued a pass. Student passes are only valid for semesters that the student is studying at RCC. Employee parking is reserved in designated spaces in Lot 1. Students have access to non-reserved open parking in Lots 1 and 2. Vehicles without a pass, or that are parked illegally elsewhere on campus, may be tagged with a violation sticker.
Reporting Crimes and Emergencies
All members of the RCC Community and all visitors are encouraged to accurately and promptly report potential criminal activity, suspicious behavior, and emergencies on campus to Public Safety at X-1310 or 617-541-6904. There are also Blue Light Emergency Call Boxes located throughout campus.
Reports may be made in person at the Public Safety Department, or via phone, and an officer will be dispatched to your location on campus, any time of the day or night. Students and employees should report all criminal offenses to Public Safety for the purpose of assessing the crime for potential distribution of a timely warning notice and for the annual disclosure of crimes on or near campus.
Reporting Crimes to Campus Security Authorities
While the college prefers that the college community report crimes to Public Safety, we also recognize that there are times when individuals may feel more comfortable reporting these instances to another party. The Clery Act authorizes other college officials to be designated Campus Security Authorities (CSA). A CSA is “an official of an institution who has significant responsibilities for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to student housing, student discipline, and campus judicial proceedings. An official is defined as any person who has the authority and the duty to take action or respond to particular issues on behalf of the institution.”
CSAs are mandated to report the crimes for immediate action, and for inclusion in the Annual Security Report. However, victims reporting crimes to a CSA may remain anonymous.
Annual Security Report
In accordance with the Clery Act, RCC gathers statistics for crimes that occur on or near campus. These crimes and related safety information are reported to the college community each October in the Annual Security Report. The Annual Security Report is available for anyone to see and is posted on RCC’s website. In addition to crimes, the Annual Security Report details information about Sexual Violence, Sexual Harassment, and related Title IX issues.
Weapons Policy
With the exception of sworn law enforcement personnel, RCC prohibits the possession, carrying, or use of any firearm, ammunition, explosive, or other weapon upon any property owned or controlled by the college. The carrying of any firearm on a school or college campus, except by a sworn law enforcement officer, is a violation of state law, even if the person has a License to Carry Firearms issued by the state.
