Crime Alert Procedures

Crime Alerts are distributed throughout Meharry Medical College to make community members aware of significant unsolved crimes that occur at the college.  They may be distributed by e-mail, fax, postings on public bulleting boards, and/or through the department's website.  This page will include the latest Crime Alerts and will be updated whenever a new alert is distributed. 

Crime Alerts are issued in compliance with the Higher Education Act (20 USC 1092(f).  This act requires that a timely notice be issued when any of the following acts occur on Meharry Medical College property/facilities and there is reason to believe that there is a threat to students and/or employees.

• Murder
• Sex offense; forcible or non-forcible
• Robbery
• Aggravated assault
• Burglary
• Motor vehicle theft
• Manslaughter, or
• Arson

The determination on whether an incident is a threat is based upon the following four questions:

• Is the incident in one of the above categories?
• Did the incident occur in an area for which Meharry's Department of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) must report statistics, or at a location where the DPSS is the primary safety responder?
• Is the suspect unknown?
• Did the incident, by its nature, or during the commission of the intended incident, involve a crime against a person or, in the event of arson, in an occupied building?
  

If all of the above questions can be answered "yes" then a Crime Alert shall be issued.  In addition, upon the discretion of the Director of the Department of Public Safety and Security or his designee, a Crime Alert may be issued for any crime where there is a compelling need to get information to or from the Meharry Medical College community about a specific crime.

The following guidelines shall be followed for issuing a CRIME ALERT:

1. Crime Alerts should contain as much of the following information as possible

• Meharry Medical College incident number and MNPD incident number
• Date, time, location (general or specific) and summarized event description
• Suspect description and/or vehicle description
• Any special instructions that may be needed

2. Crime Alerts will be issued as soon as possible after the specific event.  If the incident is a delayed report (more than 24 hours) by the victim, then the time and date the victim reported the incident will also be included in the report

3. Provided the above guidelines are met, nothing should be included in the Crime Alert that would hinder an ongoing police investigation.

4. The Crime Alert will not identify the victim by name or address.

5. The general description of the location may be given such as, but not limited to, Meharry Medical College, building, physical address, etc.

Information about all crimes at Meharry can be found on our Daily Crime Log.  A copy of the Daily Crime Log is located at either of the Security Post (In the lobby of the LRC Building, Lobby of the West Basic Science Building, the rear exit door at the back lower level), the Dispatch Desk or in the Administrative Office of the Department of Public Safety and Security.

In an effort to provide a timely notice to the Meharry Medical College community, and in the event of a serious incident which may pose a threat to members of the campus community, flyers will be posted in various locations on the campus.  These locations include bulletin boards outside buildings, College public offices, student center, and residence halls.  Crime Alerts are usually posted for the following classifications: arson, aggravated assault, criminal homicide, robbery, and sex offenses.  Crime Alerts may also be posted for other classifications as deemed necessary by college officials.

Link to the "Crime Alert Reminder "