Dear Campus Community,
Recent reports of violent acts and the active shooter incident at Brown University are deeply concerning and extremely troubling for college communities everywhere. Events like these are taken very seriously at York College, and I want to share the steps we have taken, the measures currently in place, and how we will continue to protect our campus.
York College Public Safety remains vigilant in safeguarding every member of our community. We continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, including the NYPD, the FBI, and public safety colleagues across other campuses. We actively monitor incidents as they unfold locally and nationally, share information in real time, and apply lessons learned to strengthen our preparedness and response.
Our department is also a member of NYPD SHIELD, a public private partnership that provides participating organizations with timely intelligence briefings, threat awareness, and security guidance. This partnership allows us to remain informed and coordinated with regional law enforcement agencies.
On campus, we have taken and continue to take proactive steps. We have conducted active shooter response training presentations for employees and students, and this work is ongoing. Today, we are facilitating a leadership level tabletop exercise focused on emergency response, communication, and coordination. Our officers have also participated in active shooter training this semester, with additional campus wide training planned for the upcoming semester.
From a technology standpoint, we have been implementing a new CCTV system, Alta Aware by Motorola Avigilon, which includes gunshot detection capabilities. We will continue to expand and enhance this system as capital project funds are released. In addition, we are working closely with Information Technology to expand the emergency speaker system, which is currently installed in the Childcare Center, to additional areas of campus.
We have also conducted several office safety presentations tailored specifically to individual office and workspace environments, helping employees understand how to stay safe in the spaces where they work each day. We recognize the importance of this effort and will be doing a better job of advertising these services in the coming semester so more departments can take advantage of them.
We also continue to tighten and enforce our campus identification policy and address any access or compliance issues as they arise.
Safety is not a one-time effort. It is ongoing and requires partnership. I ask that all members of our community remain alert and report anything suspicious or concerning immediately. If you see something, please say something. Public Safety is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
You can reach us at 718-262-2222, and our office is located in Room AC 1M02. Our phone number is also printed on your campus ID card, and I encourage you to save it in your phone. Public Safety also provides campus safety escorts and is always available to assist.
As we move through the end of the semester, a time that can be stressful for many, I encourage everyone to remain compassionate, look out for one another, and reach out for help when needed.
Thank you for your continued vigilance and your shared commitment to the safety and well-being of our campus community.
Sincerely,
Chief James Assmann
Director of Public Safety
CUNY York College
(718) 262-2222