Director of Public Safety Robert Warfel discusses campus preparedness

Feb 14, 2023

Campus safety is always top of mind for Xavier community leaders, including Xavier Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police Robert Warfel. Below, Chief Warfel offers several resources to help Xavier faculty, staff and students stay safe, details the steps his department takes to protect campus, and outlines ways community members can support that effort.

For a comprehensive look at campus safety, visit the Safety at Xavier website.

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How does the Xavier University Police Department (XUPD) protect faculty, staff and students?

XUPD works closely with Cincinnati PD and Norwood PD to ensure the safety of our community as they live, work, and learn here on campus.

There are two anonymous reporting programs in place that allow reporting for individuals who observe concerning behaviors or to identify individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others. A Student Concern Report tab is located on Xavier’s online hubs for both current students and employees. This information is immediately reviewed by a team of individuals who determine the best course of intervention, support, or action for the individual(s). The second method, EthicsPoint, is an anonymous reporting process. Xavier community members may report such matters using the web-based hotline or by the telephone hotline, 855-481-6238.

Does XUPD offer active aggressor/shooter response training for our campus community?

Xavier University Police Department offers training regularly upon request and through community engagement programs. The Xavier University Safety website includes links for a request and safety training calendar. XUPD is pleased to provide customized, convenient, on-site training for your group. If you are interested in scheduling a session, please complete our Safety and Life Skills Event Request Form. Once your form has been received, a staff member will contact you shortly to coordinate your event.

Are there any protective measures faculty and staff can take in classrooms on campus?

Many universities include safety and security planning into the syllabus for their courses, a practice XUPD continues to strongly recommend. This brief Active Aggressor/Shooter awareness video prepared by XUPD also highlights techniques to handle an active shooter situation.

Maintaining positive situational awareness and practicing what to do before there is an incident will help prepare and empower our community to better respond should an actual incident occur.

What protocols does XUPD use to handle threats to campus safety?

Threats are taken very seriously by XUPD. Frequently, information is shared directly with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and other threat assessment partners within our region. There are networks of Campus Law Enforcement that share information regarding threats and intelligence regarding patterns of activity and best practices. There are mass notification capabilities named XU Alert Me which provide text, phone, and email notification resources to our community regarding imminent, potential, or only information regarding possible threats.

How does Xavier identify and address students of concern?

The University’s reporting process engages a wide array of subject matter expertise and community support for the identified individuals. The Xavier Care and Action Team provides assessment and triage by partnering with the Xavier Counseling Center, Tri-Health partners, Xavier Police Department, academic support, Student Affairs, and Residence Life among many other partners. The goal is to provide rapid assessment and appropriate response with resources to provide support to the members of the Xavier community impacted by the actions of the individual(s) and provide support to the student of concern.

Where can community members find the most up-to-date information on emergency alerts and other safety tips?

The Xavier University Safety webpage is filled with resources and links to safety programs and practices for our campus community. There is a monthly Safety Committee meeting which is co-hosted by XUPD and faculty engaging students, staff, and community members regarding current and ongoing safety-related projects and concerns. There is also a weekly Chat with the Chief hosted at Flynn Hall for an open dialogue about any related XUPD and Safety topics, this is regularly posted on Engage XU. Finally, the Xavier University Campus Emergency Response Team meets monthly and engages in tabletop exercises, discussions, and reviews Campus Emergency Response plans and resources for the Xavier Community.

The XU Alert Me system ties community members directly to emergency notifications for the Xavier community. The Guardian app is available for download from the App Store or Google Play. Community members may download the app for free, select Xavier University (Cincinnati), and then set their preferences for the application. The app features a virtual escort feature, direct text to XUPD dispatch and communications, geolocation, and pre-loaded contact and safety resources/numbers for staff, faculty and students.

Additionally, the campus community is always welcome to attend Chat with the Chief, held on Thursdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Flynn Hall. I highly encourage community members to stop by and share ideas or ask me whatever questions they might have about campus safety.

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Additional Resources to support Xavier Students and Employees

 

Student Resources for Support

• Students are encouraged to seek support through Counseling Services (513-745-3022), Psychological Services Center (513-745-3531) or the Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice (513-745-3567).
• Let’s Talk Counseling appointments are available Mondays-Fridays 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted; no appointment is necessary and it is first come, first served. Call 513-745-3022, option 2 for more information.
• For crisis support, please contact XUPD dispatch at 513-745-1000 to reach the Counselor on call.
• If you have specific concerns about an individual student, please reach out to the Dean of Students office (513-745-3166). You can also e-mail Angie Kneflin, Director of Care Management Services, at kneflin@xavier.edu or Natalia Weekly, Assistant Director of Care Management Services, at weeklyn@xavier.edu.

Faculty and Staff Resources for Support

• Utilizing confidential emotional support resources provided by the Employee Assistance Program, offered by Anthem. Call 1-800-865-1044 or visit anthemEAP.com and enter the company code "Xavier" to access support resources.
• Take time to focus on self-care strategies that prioritize your emotional well-being. This may include seeking community-based clinical mental health care.
• If you are aware of a Xavier student who needs assistance, please submit a Student Concern Report at xavier.edu/studentconcern.