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Annual Security Report
Dear
Fellow Members of Moraine
Valley Community College:
The purpose of the material in this publication is to introduce you to Police
and Security Services at our college, as well as inform you of our reported
crime statistics for the campus. We have been fortunate to be able to recruit
and maintain a staff of well-qualified Law Enforcement officers and support
staff for Moraine Valley Community College. Our department efforts and methods
will continue to evolve as the needs of the college change.
Please
review the information within this publication and feel free to contact me or
any of my staff members with questions or concerns you may have. The partnership
we have with our staff, instructors, students and community members enables our
department to be a viable and proactive organization within our College
Community.
Sincerely,
Patrick O'Connor
Chief—Moraine Valley Police Department
o'connorp@morainevalley.edu
Introduction
Moraine Valley Community
College's campus is located 25 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. The college
enjoys a student, faculty, and staff population of nearly 18,000 individuals,
plus a significant number of visitors to Moraine Valley's many programs and
special events. The campus is located in one of the safest areas of the city,
but no campus is free from crime, whether it is urban, suburban, or rural. All
members of the college community, therefore, should take reasonable precautions.
Moraine Valley Community College is committed to working with all members of the
community to make our campus a safe and secure environment. The college has
developed a series of policies and procedures to assist in these efforts. The
following information has been prepared to increase your awareness of the
current programs that exist to assist you in protecting your safety and well
being. Portions are also provided in compliance with the federal law;
specifically, the Jeanne Clery Act. Moraine Valley Community College has been
fortunate in experiencing few serious crimes, but such incidents could occur,
and all crime is serious to the victim. Students, faculty, and staff are
responsible for adopting measures to protect themselves and their possessions.
Moraine Valley
Police Department
The Moraine Valley
Police Department (MVPD) is responsible for providing police and security
services for the campus. The MVPD is located at 9000 W. College Pkwy. in
Building P. The MVPD is headed by a chief who reports to the vice president of
Administrative Services. There are over 20 sworn police
personnel, all of whom are professional state-level police officers. Illinois
State law grants that members of the MVPD are conservators of the peace and
possess the same powers of arrest and enforcement as those given to other state,
county and local municipal police officers. There are also over 20 non-sworn
personnel (dispatchers, community service officers, etc.) who work for the
Police Department.
MVPD police officers cover the campus by foot,
bicycle and vehicle patrols. The department provides around-the-clock patrols
and other services to the college community. They enforce federal, state and
local statues, as well as Moraine Valley Community College rules and
regulations. Officers are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
year. The department maintains a close working relationship with all appropriate
law enforcement agencies of the criminal justice system. Meetings are held with
other agencies, on both a formal and informal basis, and crime related reports
and statistics are routinely exchanged.
Training
MVPD police officers are fully trained and commissioned men and women who have
met the requirements as mandated and regulated by the Illinois Compiled Statutes
and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. In-service
training subjects include criminal law, public relations, race relations,
interpersonal communication, crisis intervention, and all facets of protection
of persons and property.
Reporting
Procedures
General
Procedures for Reporting a Crime or Emergency
Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to report
all crimes and public safety related incidents to the Moraine Valley Police
Department (MVPD) in a timely manner. To report a crime or an emergency, call
the MVPD Communications Center at extension 5555 on any campus telephone, or by
picking up any of the red emergency telephones located throughout the campus
buildings, as well as any of the blue emergency telephones located in each of
the college's parking lots.
Dispatchers are available 24 hours a day to
answer your call. In response to a call, the MVPD will take the required action,
dispatching an officer or asking the victim to report to the MVPD to file an
incident report. All MVPD incident reports involving criminal activity and
student behavioral problems are forwarded to the Assistant Dean of Student Life
and Judicial Affairs for review and potential action. If assistance is required
from the Palos Hills Police Department or the North Palos Fire Protection
District, the MVPD will contact the appropriate unit. If a sexual assault or
rape should occur, staff on the scene, including the MVPD, will offer the victim
a wide variety of services as outlined in the Model Guidelines and Sex Crimes
Investigation Manual published by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and
Standards Board.
Notification
to the Moraine Valley Community about Reported Incidents
To provide timely
notice to the Moraine Valley community in the event of a serious incident that
may pose a threat to members of the Moraine Valley community, "Crime Alerts" are
posted throughout various locations on campus. 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. Representatives from the Glacier, a student
newspaper, meet on a regular basis with representatives of the MVPD to discuss
crime on campus, and they then report to the college community. A daily crime
log is available for review at the Moraine Valley Police Department in Building
P, from 8 a.m-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The information
in the crime log typically includes the nature, date, time, general location,
and disposition of each crime.
Statistical
Disclosure of Reported Incidents
Incidents reported to the MVPD
that fall into one of the required reporting classifications will be disclosed
as a statistic in the Moraine Valley Police Department Annual Crime Statistics
and Security Report published by the MVPD as well as posted on the MVPD's Web
site: www.morainevalley.edu/police
Reporting
Methods Available on Campus
MVPD can be contacted
from on-campus telephones by dialing extension 5555 or by dialing 974-5555
direct. In addition, there are over 30 direct-dial red emergency phones located
throughout the campus buildings and 11 direct-dial blue emergency phones located
throughout the campus parking lots and courtyards. Both of these types of
emergency telephones automatically ring in the Moraine Valley Police
Department's Communications Center.
Reporting
a Crime to the Palos Hills Police Department
A person reporting a crime to MVPD has the right
to report the crime to the Palos Hills Police Department as well. MVPD police
officers regularly discuss this option with the victim of a crime. The reporting
MVPD police officer will assist the victim with that process, should the victim
choose to file a report with the Palos Hills Police Department.
Off-Campus
Crime Reporting
Moraine Valley Community College is located in
Palos Hills, Illinois. Therefore, the Palos Hills Police Department would be
contacted about criminal activity occurring off-campus (within their
jurisdiction) involving a Moraine Valley student or for other crimes that may
occur in areas adjacent to the campus. In these cases Palos Hills Police may
notify the MVPD, but there is no official Palos Hills Police policy requiring
such notification.
The Moraine Valley Community College district
encompasses 26 different municipalities and as such, classes are offered at
various locations/facilities throughout the college's district. If a crime
occurs at one of these off-campus locations during a time when an MVCC class is
in session, the MVPD will be notified and will report the activity as required
under the Jeanne Clery Act. Student offender(s) in these cases may be subject to
arrest by the individual jurisdiction in which the crime was committed and also
subject to disciplinary action through the office of the Assistant Dean of
Student Life and Judicial Affairs.
Confidential
Reporting Procedures
If you are the victim of a crime and
do not want to pursue action within the college disciplinary system or the
criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential
report. With your permission, the Chief or a designee of the MVPD can file a
report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The
purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter
confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and
others.
With such information,
the college can keep an accurate record of the number of incidents involving
students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a
particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the college community to
potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the
annual crime statistics for the institution.
Additionally, you can
access the "Silent Witness Program" on the Moraine Valley Police Department's
web site at:
www.morainevalley.edu/police. On this Web page you can enter information
anonymously in a text field and hit "submit" to forward it to the Police
Department. Your identity will be protected to the fullest extent possible.
Crime
Statistics
The procedures for preparing the
annual disclosure of crime statistics include reporting statistics to the
college community obtained from the following sources: the Moraine Valley Police
Department, the Palos Hills Police Department, other police departments in
jurisdictions where Moraine Valley leases or uses facilities to periodically
hold classes, and non-police officials. For statistical purposes, crime
statistics reported to any of these sources are recorded in the calendar year
the crime was reported. A written report for statistical information is made on
an annual basis to college employees who have significant responsibility for
student and campus activities (college administrators, deans, advisors,
counselors, athletic coaches, etc.) All of the statistics are gathered,
compiled, and reported to the college community via the Moraine Valley Police
Department Annual Crime Statistics and Security Report that is published by the
Moraine Valley Police Department.
Enrolled students and
current employees are informed about the availability of the Annual Crime
Statistics and Security Report by notifications in the fall class schedule and
other various sources. This notification includes a brief summary of the
contents of the Moraine Valley Police Department Annual Crime Statistics and
Security Report and also includes the address for the MVPD Web site where this
report can be found online and how to request a printed copy of this report.
Education
of Members of the College Community
Campus security procedures are
discussed during new student orientation. MVPD police officials participate in
forums and meetings to address students and explain college security measures
and procedures. Members of the MVPD conduct crime prevention presentations when
requested by various community groups, including students and employees of the
college. During these presentations the following information is typically
provided: crime prevention tips; statistics on crime at Moraine Valley Community
College and information regarding college security procedures and practices,
including encouraging participants to be responsible for their own security and
the security for others on campus.
In an effort to provide timely notice to the
community in the event of a serious incident that may pose a threat to members
of the Moraine Valley community, "Crime Alerts" are posted at various locations
throughout the campus. Representatives of the Glacier, a student newspaper, meet
on a regular basis with representatives of the MVPD to discuss crime on campus,
and they then report to the college community.
The MVPD provides an escort service that is
available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. If you wish to use this service, you
can pick up any of the red emergency telephones located in each of the college
buildings, call on any of the blue emergency telephones located in each of the
college parking lots, dial extension 5555 on any campus telephone, or make the
request in person at the Police Department located in Building P.
Responsibilities
of the Moraine Valley Community
Members of the Moraine
Valley Community College community must assume responsibility for their own
personal safety and the security of their personal property. The following
precautions provide guidance.
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Report all
suspicious activity to the MVPD immediately.
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Never take personal
safety for granted.
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Try to avoid walking
alone at night. Use the MVPD escort service.
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Limit your alcohol
consumption, and leave social functions that get too loud, too crowded, or
that have too many people drinking excessively. Remember to call the MVPD or
the Palos Hills PD for help at the first sign of trouble.
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Carry only small
amounts of cash.
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Never leave
valuables (wallets, purses, books, calculators, etc.) unattended.
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Carry your keys at
all times and do not lend them to anyone.
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Lock up bicycles and
motorcycles. Lock car doors and close windows when leaving your car.
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Do not leave
valuables in your car, especially if they can be easily noticed.
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Engrave serial
numbers or owner's recognized numbers, such as driver's license number, on
items of value.
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Inventory your
personal property and insure it appropriately with personal insurance
coverage.
Contact the Moraine
Valley Police Department at any time if you have any questions or would like
additional safety suggestions.
Access
to Campus Facilities
The Moraine Valley Community College
campus is open to the public. The academic and administrative buildings as well
as the grounds are open to the public during normal business hours. Most of the
facilities have individual hours and the hours may vary at different times of
the year. Access to most buildings is controlled by card access after normal
business hours and all of the buildings have varied levels of access. MVPD
officers will provide access to buildings after hours only when proper
authorization has been presented. MVPD police officers regularly patrol all
campus buildings and parking lots to ensure the safety of students and staff.
For more information about the access protocol for a specific building, contact
the MVPD at (708) 974-5555 or extension 5555 on campus.
Maintenance
of Campus Facilities
Campus facilities and landscaping are
maintained in a manner that minimizes hazardous conditions and maximizes safe
access to the buildings and grounds. MVPD officers regularly patrol the campus
and immediately report malfunctioning lights, doors and other unsafe conditions
directly to the Campus Operations Department in order for these matters to be
corrected in an expeditious manner. Other members of the college community are
helpful in reporting equipment and facilities problems to the MVPD or to the
Campus Operations Department. The campus and facilities are maintained with the
safety of students and staff foremost in mind. If you observe any unsafe
conditions on campus, please contact the MVPD at (708) 974-5555 or
extension 5555 on campus.
Alcohol
and Drug Policies
Moraine Valley Community College is committed to
promoting the health and safety of its campus community through a program of
alcohol education and the implementation of relevant policies. The college
enforces compliance with Illinois State alcoholic beverage laws on campus and at
college-sponsored activities. The college affirms its adherence to the following
principles:
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The misuse and/or
abuse of alcoholic beverages and related behavior, such as disorderly
conduct, illness due to excessive consumption of alcoholic, and destruction
of property, pose a danger to individual members of the college community
and to the community at large.
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The promotion of
alcoholic beverage consumption as the primary focus of on- and off-campus
activities is inappropriate because it invites members of the college
community to violate college regulations and state laws.
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Consumption of
alcoholic beverages should only be by persons of legal age and by personal
choice.
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Those who choose to
consume alcoholic beverages should do so responsibly and in moderation.
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Consumption of
alcoholic beverages should not be the main focus of an event or the only
means of refreshment at an event.
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The responsibility
for proper consumption of alcoholic beverages and for compliance with laws
of the State of Illinois rests with each individual member of the college
community.
The rules, regulations
and penalties regarding the use, possession or distribution of alcohol or
controlled substances by students on Moraine Valley Community College premises
or at institutionally sponsored activities off campus, are contained in the Code
of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct also specifies the prohibitions
and the penalties for violations of these prohibitions. In addition, Moraine
Valley is in compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
of 1989. Each year the college renews its commitment to the letter and spirit of
that law with an informational letter to students and employees.
Moraine Valley does not
condone violations of those laws proscribing possession, use, or sale of
alcoholic beverages and possession, use, sale, manufacture, or distribution of
illegal drugs. Members of the Moraine Valley community should know that
administrative action, which may include revocation of privileges, suspension or
expulsion from the college, may be taken to protect the interests of Moraine
Valley and the rights and safety of others.
Abuse of alcohol and
drugs can have a dramatic impact on professional, academic, and family life. The
college, therefore, encourages members of the community who may be experiencing
difficulty with drugs or alcohol to contact one of the following resources
available on and off campus:
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Moraine Valley Counseling Center
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(708)
974-5722
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Pillars Community Services
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(708)
458-0230
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Metropolitan
Family Services of S/W Cook County
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(708)
974-2300
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Registered Sex Offender
Information
The Illinois State Police provides a list of registered sex offenders which can
be accessed online. The online database is updated daily and allows searches by
name, city, county and zip code. Information about registered sex offenders may
be obtained at the following web address:
www.isp.state.il.us/sor
The Moraine Valley
Police Department maintains a file of students who have registered as sex
offenders.
This information is being provided under the mandates of the Campus Sex Crimes
Prevention Act (section 1601 of public law 106.386, enacted October 28, 2000.)
Response
to Sexual Assault
Moraine
Valley Community College Code of Student Conduct
Rape and all forms of sexual assault are violations of Moraine Valley
Community College Code of Student Conduct.
The MVPD utilizes the Model Guidelines and Sex
Crimes Investigation Manual published by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training
and Standards Board when responding to incidents involving sexual assault.
Prevention
and Education Programs
Sexual assault prevention, counseling programs and information are available through:
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Moraine
Valley Police Department
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(708)
974-5555 or extension 5555 on campus
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Moraine Valley
Counseling Center
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(708)
974-5722
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Palos
Hills Police Department
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(708)
598-2992
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The
CARE. Center
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(708)
788-6759
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