UWM Campus Safety

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus is consistently growing and changing. Every year there are new people, new events and obstacles within the school year. It is important to know what resources are available and to remain safe while also having fun. Here is a list of resources and tips to prevent risks and promote campus safety.

Safe Walkers-No Longer Available

Students having late classes is not uncommon and walking home in the dark can be spooky. The UWM Safe Walkers is a service provided through the UWM Police Department to help solve this issue. Safe Walkers are UWM students trained by the UWM Police to escort other students within a few blocks of campus.

According to Former Safe Walker Edgar Leon, they spent most of their time “locking up buildings, walking around campus to make sure nothing suspicious was going on and walking those who called for a Safe Walk from point A to point B to make sure they got there safely.”

 This service is usually available seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. However, due to COVID-19, the Safe Walkers program is currently closed with no indication of when it will return. For the time being, students can reach security officers for a Safe Walk at the nonemergency UWM Police Department number (414) 229-4627) if they were to feel in danger on campus.

UWM B.O.S.S – Be On the Safe Side

Forget Uber, here is a safer, cheaper ride service. B.O.S.S. is a safe ride service available to all UWM students with the presentation of a UWM Panther Card. In the fall and spring, B.O.S.S operates from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. In the summer and winter terms, they operate from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily. Students may get a ride within Capitol Drive to the north-west, Glendale Avenue to the north-east, MLK/3rd Street to the west, Brady Street to the south and Lake Michigan to the east.

It is a free resource dedicated to students getting home fast and safe. A ride can be scheduled by downloading the TapRide app or using the UWM TapRide website where students can request a ride from their smartphone or computer. They can also schedule a ride by calling 414-229-6503 or at the walk-up window at the Union Transportation Services.

Car Theft Prevention

With the increase in vehicle theft on the East Side, students can never be too cautious. It is recommended that valuables don’t be kept inside the vehicle or that items be moved out of eyeshot from the windows to evade vehicle theft or a broken window. Make sure to lock the car’s doors, even if away for only a few minutes. UWM students who own a Kia or Hyundai vehicle can also receive a free steering wheel lock at the UWM Police Department with proof of ownership such as a license plate or registration.

RAVE Guardian App

The RAVE Guardian app is a popular technology students use on campus to keep connected and safe. It is an emergency communications platform used to send alerts by email and text. The RAVE Guardian app, which can be downloaded for free from Apple or Android stores allows users to interact with the police department through texting, confidential tips, location sharing and more.

Users can set a virtual safety timer to have friends or family watch over them on their walk home for another layer of security. The app allows users to select contacts or “guardians” from their phone, include messages regarding where they are going and a timer for an estimated time of how long it should take. The app shows the “guardians” an updated current location of the subject throughout their walk until the timer goes off or the subject is home safe. For more information, find the virtual safewalk webpage.

Emergency Telephones Around Campus

Walking around campus and thinking someone is following? Emergency telephones are placed all around campus for an immediate connection to an emergency service for the reporting of any crime or emergency.

The phones are in a bright yellow box mounted on black poles with blue lights at the top. The phones are for emergency use only, including “fire, medical emergencies, crimes in progress or crimes that have just occurred and reporting of any suspicious persons or activity.”

To use the phones, the subject must open the door to the box and hold the red button until the call is received. This will activate the 911 system and print out the phone’s location at the UWM police station. The caller and the police dispatcher can then converse with each other and get the help they need in a timely fashion.

Self Defense Courses- Suspended

For those who skipped arm day at the gym or for individuals who want to be more prepared to defend themselves in case of an emergency, UWM PD offers free self-defense courses to faculty and students. The UWM PD self-defense program is usually broken up into two sections, one of which will be a lecture focusing on situational awareness on and off-campus. The second portion focuses on techniques designed to maximize strength and to create distance. Other safety training courses are available as well such as Active Shooter training. Although, due to the pandemic, training has been suspended until further notice unless there are online offerings. Follow the training calendars on the UWM Police Department’s official page to see when they would have any potential openings or online opportunities.

Be Aware

Lastly, be observant and aware. When it is dark out or a student is venturing into an unknown area, it is important for them to be aware of their surroundings. Students should be focused, look around them, take out their earbuds to listen and keep their eyes up and off their phone. Many individuals will call a friend or family member to keep