Timely Warnings & Emergency Warnings

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, constitutes a growing, present or on-going threat to the safety of the LETU community, a campus-wide warning will be issued.

Emergency Warnings will be issued for developing or immediate threats to the campus community via the University Electronic Campus Communications System (ECCS) to students, faculty and staff who have signed up for this free notification service. All emergency warnings will also be transmitted through university email. Emergency warnings may also be placed on the university website, at www.letu.edu.

Timely Warnings will be issued for developing weather circumstances or to inform the LETU community concerning incidents or trends occurring on or around campus that may pose potential threat to the community but fall short of an immediate threat (such as the escalation of purse-snatching thefts or burglaries in a near-by neighborhood or in an area known to be frequented by a substantial number of LETU community members).

Either Emergency Warnings or Timely Warnings may also be posted on dormitory and work-area bulletin boards and other areas where they will be easily noticed.

Anyone having information warranting an Emergency Warning or a Timely Warning should report the circumstances to the University Police Department by phone, at 903-233-4444, or in person at the UPD office, 624 Harris Drive. 

The most recent Timely Warnings are as follows:

November 7, 2012

This afternoon at about 1pm, the University Police Department received two reports of burglaries of vehicles that had already occurred.  An unknown actor entered two unlocked automobiles and ransacked the inside searching for anything of value.

Please consider the following tips for security of vehicles and possessions;

• Never leave items of value in your vehicle
  • They should be locked in the trunk or removed entirely
• Lock your car! Unlocked vehicles make easy targets of opportunity
• Be aware of who is in your area. If you see someone who does not seem to belong or is doing something that is out of the ordinary, call UPD at 4444.
  • This actor (or actors) moved from vehicle to vehicle checking door handles for unlocked doors

The University Police Department responds to calls for service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please do not hesitate to call if you see something or someone that does not look right to you.

God bless and be safe,

Terry Turner, MCJ
Chief of Police
LeTourneau University
 

March 16, 2012

LeTourneau University Police Department is dedicated to the prospect of helping to keep our community members safe both on and off our campus. One way that we can do this is to ensure that you are made aware of incidents that have potential to affect us as we go about our daily lives both at the campus and away from it.

Yesterday, between 3:30 and 4 p.m. a Longview woman was robbed at gunpoint a few blocks north of the LeTourneau University campus. According to information from Longview Police Department a black male pointed a gun at the victim’s head and took her purse. He then fled the scene and dumped the purse in a nearby ditch. We are pleased to report that, while this incident occurred near our campus, there is no indication that any portion of the campus or campus community was involved in any way.

This information is shared with you in the interest of making you aware of what is going on in the community around our campus and providing you some extra information on how to remain as safe as possible if you should ever find yourself. As a general rule, it is advised that, when confronted by an armed robber:

• You should comply with the commands and requests made by the robber. He is most likely to take what property he is after and leave without harming you.
• Watch the hand with the weapon in it… you may have to change strategy if you see him tightening up on the weapon
• Do not try to stare the person down… but do try to remember the physical description
  • The person: Height, weight, hair color, eye color, facial hair, skin color, tone, complexion, exposed scars, marks or tattoos
  • The clothing: hat/cap, coat, shirt, pants, shoes
  • The weapon: what is it? In which hand was it held? How was it held? Was it pointed at you or up against you?
• Give a robber anything he asks for but do not get into a vehicle with him. That’s when it’s time to run. Hit, distract, or just plain run away.

After a robbery or assault, you will need to do a few things too:

• Get to a safe place – someplace where there are witnesses
• Call 911. They can get you everything you’ll need – Police, medical help, even a friend to come and be with you to help take care of any details you may need them to handle while you report your incident.
• Take your time and tell your story exactly as you remember it
• After it’s all over, go home and write it down… think through it and write down every detail, even if it is something that your left out of your police report.
  • If it was a significant detail call the police back and they will include the information in their follow-up report.
• Somewhere in this process, contact your family. They will want to know and may have some further good advice for you.

If you have questions or concerns about the incident, the investigation or any other issue in the event, I encourage you to contact a Police Officer at the University Police Department. We will be glad to talk with you and help in any way we are able.

God bless and be safe,

Terry Turner
Chief of Police
LeTourneau University