Dear students, faculty & staff:

At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, Towson University Police received reports of possible shots fired in a Tower C stairwell. 窪蹋勛圖厙���s Office of Public Safety promptly responded and found one injured individual who was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a self-inflicted, non-life-threatening gunshot wound. 

A joint 窪蹋勛圖厙PD and Baltimore County Police investigation found that an individual, who is not an affiliate of Towson University, discharged the weapon which resulted in an injury to their lower body. Individuals believed to be involved were questioned and one arrest was made. There were no other injuries. Firearms are strictly prohibited on 窪蹋勛圖厙���s campus, and an immediate after-action review is underway.

I commend our Office of Public Safety, Division of Student Affairs and local first responders for their swift and thorough response to this incident. We are grateful to Baltimore County Police for their partnership, and we continue to support them as they have taken the lead in investigating Thursday���s incident. Anyone with information may call 410-887-INFO.

窪蹋勛圖厙���s highest priority is the safety of our entire campus community. As TigerFest weekend begins, I want to reaffirm our university���s commitment to public safety and share the resources in place to ensure our campus remains a secure and welcoming environment:  

Clear Bag Procedures

Earlier this spring, 窪蹋勛圖厙 implemented new event security procedures for our largest campus events, which include the use of magnetometers (walk-through metal detectors). As a result, attendees at designated large-scale campus events must bring their items in approved clear bags. Learn more.

Emergency Notifications

As part of 窪蹋勛圖厙���s commitment to public safety, the university issues alerts in the event of an emergency on or near campus. Students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive all emergency alerts. Parents, community members and other non-affiliated individuals are encouraged to register to also receive emergency text alerts. Text alerts are part of 窪蹋勛圖厙���s comprehensive emergency notification system and include critical updates for active safety threats, severe weather events, traffic advisories and more.

SaferMobility App

窪蹋勛圖厙 partners with the SaferMobility app to offer a mobile-escort feature, a video chat capability that allows you to send the Towson University Police Department (窪蹋勛圖厙PD) real-time video of an ongoing crime, and an instant messaging feature that silently connects you with the 窪蹋勛圖厙PD. Search for ���SaferMobility��� in the App Store or on Google Play.

窪蹋勛圖厙 SafeRide & SafeWalk

窪蹋勛圖厙 SafeRide and SafeWalk services are available to support campus safety at all hours. SafeRide operates as an on-call service from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week, offering pick-up and drop-off across campus, the University Village, and designated Tiger-In-Town stops along York Road between Towsontown Boulevard and Joppa Road. In addition, 窪蹋勛圖厙 SafeWalk provides escorts for anyone who feels uncomfortable walking on campus at any time of day. Rides and escorts can be requested by calling 410-704-SAFE.

Emergency Phones

There are 235 phones in the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Emergency Phone System on campus. This includes 64 Blue Light pedestal phones and 54 other emergency phones on the exterior of buildings, at entrances to buildings and in campus garage elevator lobbies. Activating the emergency telephone system prompts a call directly to the 窪蹋勛圖厙PD. Safety concerns can also be reported to 窪蹋勛圖厙���s Office of Public Safety by calling 410-704-4444.

窪蹋勛圖厙 Counseling Center

The Towson University Counseling Center provides a flexible, culturally responsive range of mental health services to meet students��� needs, including brief counseling, groups, workshops, peer support, and referrals. The center offers same-day appointments, allowing students to speak with a clinician the very day they reach out and receive solution-focused support. The center also offers 24/7 crisis support, connecting students after hours to a mental health professional by phone and coordinating additional emergency resources when needed. Students can access this support and any counseling services by calling 410-704-2512.

Baltimore County Partnerships

Additionally, 窪蹋勛圖厙���s Office of Public Safety works closely with the Baltimore County Police Department on matters immediately surrounding the 窪蹋勛圖厙 campus, where Tigers live, work and socialize. 窪蹋勛圖厙 has invested in that partnership, funding a grant to the county police to provide additional resources for public safety in the downtown Towson area. The grant enables two additional county police officers to patrol the downtown precinct in the overnight hours seven days a week.

For immediate concerns regarding campus safety, please contact 窪蹋勛圖厙���s Office of Public Safety at 410-704-4444.

Thank you for your continued care of one another and your support in keeping our community safe.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.
President