Article by: Abbagale Looney

The Student Center was host to this year’s Coffee with a Cop event, featuring several campus officers and Krispy Kreme donuts. Beverages such as – you guessed it – coffee were provided, along with hot cocoa and toppings. One officer even made a joke to break the cop-doughnut stereotype: that he preferred bagels to doughnuts! The officers took questions and gave advice to students on how to remain safe on campus.

An incredibly helpful resource that they encourage is the LiveSafe app. You can easily report suspicious activity, access safety and security information, report an emergency, use the SafeWalk feature to virtually walk with someone on a real-time map, and also access mental health aid for yourself or someone else. 

A student who plans on leaving campus during Christmas break asked USAPD what she should do with her car if she did not take it with her. They advised her and anyone else with similar plans to park in the lower part of the Gamma Lot (303) and also to reach out to the campus police and Parking Services to notify them. The email for parking services is parkingservices.southalabama.edu and the non-emergency email to reach USAPD, for instances such as this, is police.southalabama.edu.

One gentleman in attendance thanked the officers for jumping off his car battery the day before. He had been parked in a position that would have been difficult to get regular length jumper cables to, but thanks to the extended length ones USAPD has available, it was not a problem. Students should call them at (251)-460-6312 if experiencing a similar issue.

Whether you live on campus or in an apartment outside of South’s vicinity, USAPD recommends using the “buddy system” for late night trips outside of your home. Even something as simple as going out to your car at night can be much safer by taking someone with you. It is important to stay alert at all times and to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

With bikes and scooters in high demand on South’s campus, USAPD advises students to take precautionary measures to ensure their property stays safe. It is important to document scooter vin numbers so that if it is stolen and brought to be pawned, the police department will be notified. Also, when locking bikes outside of buildings, the police department recommends lacing the chain through the frame itself to ensure that it cannot be dismantled around the chain. 

Something that seems trivial, but the officers seriously addressed is unlocked doors in student dormitories. USAPD said that many thefts are reported in situations where no break-in occurred simply because doors were left open. In addition, students should remove all valuables from within their vehicles and always stay aware of their surroundings.

An interesting topic brought up during the Coffee with a Cop event is the ride-along program. Students may book a day and time to experience first-hand the duties of our campus police officers. After reaching out to the USAPD, the student will fill out a form and submit it in order to tag along. 

Chief Officer Fishel said that if a student gets out of class late at night and feels unsafe, they can contact USAPD to see if an officer is available to come and monitor the parking lot. Another officer told attendees that they should stop for “two Mississippi’s” at stop signs to ensure they will not be given a ticket for an incomplete stop. Also, if a student rides a bike or scooter to class, they should dismount and look both ways before going through a pedestrian crossing. The officers in attendance stated that working at South has given them an opportunity to become part of an ever-growing and changing community. 

Outside of the Coffee with Cops event, the police officers have other resources to share with students, such as Penelope House and the Jag Pantry. If students want to make donations for Penelope House (an Alabama organization that helps victims of domestic violence), there is a drop box located inside the campus police department. There is a list of urgent need items on penelopehouse.org. If students would like to donate to the Jag Pantry (located in Meisler Hall), there is a drop box for those items as well. Jag Pantry has food and toiletry items available for any students who are experiencing financial difficulties. Searching “Jag Pantry” in South Alabama’s website search bar lists possible donation items such as canned goods, hygiene products, and other non-perishable items.

If students are interested in attending future events with USAPD, they can keep an eye out for “Pancakes with the PoPo” and “Pizza with Police”. Both events are expected to take place in the Spring and are great opportunities for students to interact with the people who work to keep our campus safe. In the meantime, students can follow the USAPD instagram account @usa.policedepartment to keep up with events they take part in.