Campus alerts called into question after Kalamazoo shooting
Western Michigan University recently faced criticism when students were not alerted of the shooting spree carried out by Jason Dalton on Feb. 20 in Kalamazoo.
“Clearly, we failed (on Feb. 20) to provide adequate information and updates,” WMU President John Dunn wrote in a statement released Feb. 21. “We look forward to working with our student leaders, faculty and the university community to be much more responsive to the need for information and communication.”
Lt. Cameron Wassman of CMUPD said the police department considers whether or not to send alert on a case-by case-basis. The decision is made by the police department, not University Communications. Wassman said the University is required by the Clery Act to report the location of the incident, what it entailed and how students can stay safe.
“The best thing would be just to simply stay away from where the incident is happening,” he said.
Wassman said several factors influence the decision whether to send out a warning, such as the location of the incident and which direction the suspect(s) are moving. If a violent incident such as a shooting occurs on or near campus, an alert will be sent out, but at five miles away, the decision is more situational.
“We’re going to err on the side of caution and put out that information,” Wassman said. “(We’d) rather be criticized for too much information than not enough.”
There are two classifications of alert the police department use for emergency situations. The first is an emergency notification used for extreme cases such as a shooting. Once there is reason to believe safety at CMU is threatened, a warning is sent to all students via university email. Students, faculty and staff can also register for CMU Alerts to have the same information sent by a phone call, text or an alternative email.
The last time CMU sent out an emergency notification was in August 2014 in response to an armed robbery on the north end of campus. The suspects were apprehended and nobody was injured.
CMUPD can also send out a “timely warning notice” to make students aware of smaller crimes and incidents that do not involve an impending risk. The last timely warning notice was sent out Oct. 21, 2015 to inform students of sexual assault in which a man on a bicycle inappropriately touched a woman walking to class.
Southfield junior Rahsaan Norris said police should always report violent incidents.
“We pay money to be here. They should always let students know, especially within the city limits,” he said.
Canton senior Melissa Pond also said she wanted to be alerted in the event of a violent incident.
“If there was something going on in Mount Pleasant, they should send an alert,” she said.
