Public Safety Department - Chief's Message
Welcome to Life University! If you have never visited our campus I encourage you to do so. Our goal in Public Safety is to provide our students, employees and visitors with a safe campus that will allow each student to pursue his or her academic goals with confidence. We have a beautiful and secure campus and we look forward to having you or your family members become a part of our community.
To ensure the safety of our campus, Life maintains a fully staffed Public Safety and Security Department which monitors activities on campus 24-hours a day. The standards set for each officer include providing safe and orderly buildings, parking facilities and grounds and overall crime prevention for our students and staff.
The standards are accomplished by recruiting motivated and qualified individuals to meet the legal and ethical requirements set forth for a Public Safety Officer. Additional training is provided to these individuals in campus community services, crime prevention and interpersonal communication.
All safety and security concerns on campus can be directed to a Public Safety officer who will investigate and initiate an incident report for Life University's use. We openly solicit the observations and concerns of our students, staff and all visitors. We believe that with greater awareness, we can help better prepare everyone to protect him or herself from crime.
It is the official policy of the Public Safety department to actively investigate all complaints and violations of state laws committed on our campus and to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies and courts.
Location:
Our headquarters is located in Annex A on the Life University Campus.
Emergency:
Emergency on campus: Ext. 2911
Off-campus emergency: (770) 426-2911
Non-emergency: (770) 426-2681
Student Information 2002/2003
Students Right to Know and Annual Police Report
Procedure for reporting criminal actions and other emergencies on campus (Student's right know)
Life University maintains a fully staffed Police Department. This department monitors activities on campus 24-hours a day. Students and employees with concern over criminal actions on campus can contact the Police Department at (770) 426-2911. The department representative will initiate an Incident Report. We openly solicit the observations and concerns of our students, staff and all visitors when suspicious or criminal activity is observed on campus. We believe that with greater awareness we can help each person be better prepared to protect his or herself from crime. We also work closely with local law enforcement agencies to obtain and monitor criminal reports made to them. Life University also monitors reports for violations of law that are based on prejudices of race, religion, sex and ethnicity.
It is the policy of the Police Department to actively investigate all complaints and violations of state laws committed on our campus and to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies and courts. This may require the department to notify the office of Student Affairs of violations of law, which also violate university policy or codes of conduct.
Access to campus facilities
The Police Department monitors access to campus facilities through various activities designed to keep the students and employees in contact with the Police Officers. The buildings are patrolled by officers and unlocked at the appropriate time in the morning and re-locked each evening.
All users of the university facilities are encouraged to express concerns they have while on campus. The Police Officer will initiate an Incident Report to document all concerns. An investigation will follow with the Police Department.
Campus Law Enforcement
Life University Police Department is a law enforcement agency, and can therefore enforce all laws of the State of Georgia. We are a law enforcement agency with the goal to protect our campus community. The department's actions are directed at crime prevention, traffic safety and the maintenance of peace and order. This is only possible when all users of the campus cooperate by reporting all suspicious activity.
Monitoring off campus student criminal activities
Life University operates The Commons apartments, which are a part of our campus. It is the policy of Life University Police Department to maintain regular patrol of the complex for the purpose of crime prevention. Life University Police Department has a Police Officer assigned to live in the Commons and monitor the activities therein.
It is our goal to encourage the highest level of integrity from our students on and off campus. We as an institution provide the guidance and information necessary to our students to make this possible. This is accomplished through available counseling on campus, community assistance, and a published list of resources available to our students and staff by which they can receive necessary assistance and guidance. These resources are available from the Police Department and from our on campus counseling staff.
Crime prevention
The Life University Police Department takes the position that it is best to inform students and employees of unsafe practices. This may include thefts of property, alcohol or drug abuse, rape, other sexual offenses, stalking, and domestic violence. Each student or employee can exercise due caution while Life University provides assistance and helps everyone prepare themselves to avoid becoming a victim of any crime.
We publish and make available the Annual Campus Police Report, which summarizes incidents on campus. The contents of the Student Right To Know information are contained in the Student Handbook and on the Internet. It lists each violation by type and frequency. For incidents of concern that occur between the yearly printing of the report, we post interim information in the student publications on campus and post information flyers throughout the campus that inform the students of the incident.
Crime prevention is also accomplished by greeting each new group of students during their orientation each quarter. At this time the students are informed of the importance of reporting all incidents that they are involved in. At this meeting, any current areas of concern are explained to them and information provided to them on prevention.
The Police Department also highlights topics of concern on a quarterly basis. Posters of these topics are placed in several of the buildings for student viewing. Articles reinforcing this same topic are presented in student publications. These topics cover areas of sexual abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, theft, and crimes of stalking. Crime prevention tapes are also available from the Police Department for loan and discussion.
In all cases, the University administration is notified of the accused offenses. The procedures for institutional sanctions are defined in the student handbook.
Procedures for institutional sanctions
The rules and procedures for all offenses and disciplinary proceedings are defined in the student handbook. It is important to note that both the victim and the accused are afforded certain rights and that the list of references for counseling or any other assistance is available to both. In cases of domestic violence and sexual offenses, Life University will make reasonable accommodations with regard to class schedules or living arrangements.
Alcohol/Drug abuse prevention drug policy
The Life University drug program policy is to first advise the students and employees of our position on illegal drugs. We are a drug free institution. We hold students and employees accountable for violations of our rules and the state law. We view addiction as an illness and offer meaningful help to those so affected in the form of counseling and referral.
Alcohol
The legal drinking age in Georgia is 21. It is unlawful to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages on this campus under the legal age. It is unlawful to misrepresent your age or to provide identification to someone else under the drinking age. Life University Police enforce all laws pertaining to the serving of alcohol in any manner that induces a person to drink by contest or challenge.
Life University Police Department strictly enforces state DUI laws, as defined in Georgia Code 40-6-391.
The Life University Student Handbook defines the rules applied to alcohol service on campus with regard to license holders and locations. All rules, regulations and laws pertaining to alcohol are observed by the Police Department.
Crime statistics as reported to Life University campus police department
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Registration of vehicles
Life University provides parking for student cars that display a valid parking decal. Decals are issued at the registration processes and at the reception desk located in Annex B room 125. Decals are $20per quarter for the 1st vehicle and $5 per quarter for additional cars or motorcycles. Students must adhere the decal on the left side of the rear window on the outside the vehicle, or on the stationary portion of the fork on motorcycles. Convertibles or cars with louvers may place the decal on the left rear side window or on the front windshield. Decals must be present on the vehicles by Friday of the first week of class.
Passes for vehicles
All drivers must stop at the Police Department to obtain a temporary pass for any of the following reasons:
- Driving an unregistered car on campus (Does not have a current University decal).
- Spouse, significant other, acquaintance or patient drives a student owned car on campus. (Failure to obtain a temporary pass may subject the car to being ticketed.)
Handicapped parking
Life University honors handicap placards and plates from all states. It is our policy to ticket and impound vehicles occupying handicap parking spaces without displaying the proper placard or plate. Drivers who manifest a need for handicap parking can make application for such parking through the Police Department. Life University adheres to the requirements for handicap parking set forth in the Georgia Code section 40-6-222. So that we can access the number of spaces needed, and validate those placards and plates in use, it is a requirement that the users of handicap parking register with the Police Department. Upon registering, a special decal will be issued that must be affixed to the vehicle. Those who may develop a need for handicap parking after enrolling must submit an application for such parking through the Police Department.
Driving on campus
As students at a professional University, we expect each of you to set an example fitting your profession. The speed limit on campus is 10 MPH and will be strictly enforced. It is a violation of the student rules to commit the following acts while driving on campus: Failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to yield at yield signs, failing to yield to pedestrian, speeding over 10mph, weaving in and out of driving lanes, and driving against the established flow of traffic and committing reckless conduct with a vehicle.
Fines for moving violations are $35 and will increase with each subsequent occurrence, regardless of the quarter issued. Multiple violations will lead to a suspension of driving privileges on campus, and could lead to expulsion from Life University. All students and employee's driving on campus are required to have a valid driver's license and valid proof of insurance coverage in their possession.
Parking restrictions
Each parking lot has a sign indicating its intended use. Please check these signs for any restrictions, which may apply before parking. General student parking is in gravel lots, or identified by yellow parking lines in paved lots. Green lines identify upper quarter parking. All restricted parking is identified by white or blue parking lines.
Parking fines (tickets)
Tickets can be written for violations, which include but are not limited to:
- Violation of a restricted parking area.
- Parking in fire lanes or driveways, or blocking roads or dumpsters.
- Taking more than one space or overextending lanes.
- Parking on grass or in flowerbeds and other violations deemed inappropriate for the orderly parking of vehicles.
- Not displaying a parking decal on the student vehicle.
- Registering a vehicle after signing a waiver exempting the parking fee, or failing to remove student decals from a car after signing an exemption form.
|
||||||||
Moving violations - fines
The fine for any moving violation is $35 without exception.
|
||||||||||||||
Parking ticket appeal process
Student tickets: The process for filing appeal is located on the back of the pink copy of your ticket. Parking Appeals for tickets received on campus are available through the Student Council Appeals Committee. Simply follow the procedure below. You must file your appeal within 7 school days of the date it is written in order for it to be considered.
- Fill out an Appeals Form available at the Police Department.
- Attach a photocopy of your ticket to the Appeals Form and drop ALL material at the Police Department.
- Wait for the Appeals reply in the mail! (GOLD COPY) No appeal will be considered after that seven days. To Protect the integrity of the process, tickets being submitted are now subject to a bond of $10 which is lost if the ticket is upheld by the student appeals committee. Forfeited bond money will be billed to your account and put in the Student Activity Account.
Before submitting a ticket for appeal, consider the reason that you are making it. Thoughtless or frivolous appeals now carry a penalty! For employees: Appeals are reviewed by the Police Department.
Special note: Tickets for violations, which constitute fraud, are not eligible for the Appeals Process. These can include, but are not limited to, giving false information on the vehicle registration form or obtaining a decal, which grants a higher level of parking privilege. Also, unidentified tickets which are written on any car and are identified upon impound of the vehicle are not eligible for the appeals process. The purpose of the appeals process is to give consideration to tickets on a timely basis.
Towing of vehicles
Vehicles may be towed for any of the following reasons:
- Having any unpaid tickets on file, or upon the 3rd ticket issued in a single quarter.
- Blocking roads, docks, dumpsters or driveways.
- Parking in clinic or visitor spaces, or in handicap spaces.
- Parking on grass or in landscaped areas (flowers, etc.).
- Abandoned Vehicles: Police Officers will monitor such vehicles and tow vehicles once deemed abandoned.
Students needing to leave a vehicle in a parking lot for a specified time frame should obtain an identification pass for the dash that briefly describes the conditions under which the vehicle is left for the time frame. Passes are available from the Police Department.
Lockers:
All lockers on Life University campus are the property of Life University and are regulated through the Police Department. Available lockers will be rented on the following basis during the first week of class:
Monday and Tuesday - students in quarters 13 and 14 may choose an available locker. Wednesday and Thursday - students in quarters 7 to 12 may choose an available locker. Friday - students in any quarter may choose an available locker.
The Finance Office will do the renting and collecting of fees. It will be the duty of the Police Department to monitor the use and condition of the lockers. Actual evictions will be done by the Police Department once the locker has been posted for three days giving notice of the eviction. The lock will be cut and the contents bagged and identified and maintained for safe keeping for a reasonable length of time.
Animals on campus
All leash laws in Cobb County are enforced on our campus. Dogs are not allowed on the campus or in the buildings with the exception for sight assistance. Dogs may be taken on the 5 miles of running trails for the purpose of sight assistance and personal security, but the animals must be on a leash, and the owner must clean up after the dogs. Dogs are not allowed on the Rugby Field, or track and field facility for any reason, except sight assistance.
Lost and found
Contact the Police Department for lost and found items.
