Your Role in a Safer Campus
Campus safety is a shared responsibility. While the WashU Police Department is on duty 24/7, we rely on the eyes and ears of our students, faculty, and staff to help us identify and respond to potential risks.
The “See Something, Say Something” campaign is not about spying on your neighbors; it is about recognizing unusual behaviors and concerning circumstances that could impact the safety of our community.
If This Is An Emergency
Call 911 or 314-935-5555 immediately if there is an active threat to life or safety on campus.
What Should I Report?
We encourage you to report activity that seems out of the ordinary or behavior that causes you concern. Trust your instincts.
“See Something, Say Something” focuses on behavior, not appearance. A person’s race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation are not suspicious or indicators of a threat. Reports should be based on specific actions or suspicious circumstances.
1. Suspicious Activity & Items
- Unattended Items: Backpacks, bags, or packages left alone in high-traffic areas or near building entrances.
- Unauthorized Access: Someone attempting to enter restricted areas without ID or required credentials (labs, mechanical rooms, rooftops) or following someone into a secured building (“tailgating”).
- Surveillance: A person taking unusual interest in building security, filming entrances/exits, or sketching floor plans beyond a casual or academic interest.
2. Concerning Behaviors
Sometimes the risk isn’t an object, but a person in distress. Please report if you observe:
- Threatening Language: Direct or implied threats to harm themselves or others, whether spoken, written in assignments, or posted on social media.
- Weapon Fixation: Inappropriate or sudden fixation on firearms, mass casualty events, or tactical gear.
- Signs of Extreme Distress: Sudden, alarming changes in behavior, such as expressions of hopelessness, severe withdrawal, or paranoia.
- Stalking or Harassment: Persistent, unwanted following or communication that makes a community member feel unsafe.
How to Report
Choose the method that makes you most comfortable. Your information can be the missing piece of a larger puzzle.
- Emergency: Dial 911
- Non-Emergency Dispatch: 314-935-5555
- Anonymous Reporting: Silent Witness Form
- Mobile App: WashU Safe App
- In-Person: Visit our station at 6615 Shepley Drive, Clayton, MO 63105
What information to include when you report:
When you report, try to provide as much detail as possible:
- Who did you see? (Description of clothing, height, etc.)
- What did you see? (Specifically, what behavior was suspicious?)
- Where did it happen? (Building name, room number, or nearby landmarks.)
- When did it occur?
Take Action
- Trust Your Instincts: If something doesn’t “feel right,” it’s worth a report. Let our professionals investigate.
- Program Our Number: Save 314-9355-5555 in your phone now.
- Download the App: Safe App