Public Safety

Welcome to the Central Penn College Public Safety and Health Department

The Public Safety and Health Department strives to provide the faculty, staff, students, and all affiliates of Central Penn College with a prompt response, commitment to quality services, and enhanced communication efforts. Dedication and commitment to a quality living and learning environment is the mission of this department.

The long-term strategic goals of the Public Safety and Health Department are centered on building relationships and engaging campus community members. To successfully deliver these strategic goals, the Public Safety and Health Department has committed to the following: 

  • Support multi-cultural and inclusivity initiatives while being keenly aware of unconscious biases.
  • Advocate the need to build trust, create relationships, and engage community members.
  • Understand the impact of emotional intelligence, non-verbal communication, and empathic listening.
  • Implement new programs and training solutions to address current trends.

Call 911 in an emergency.

The Public Safety and Health Department is always open and located in Bollinger Hall, room 46.  If you require assistance call (717) 728-2364 or dial extension 2364 from any on campus telephone.  Individuals may also email the Public Safety and Health Department at PublicSafety@CentralPenn.edu.

Clery Act Information

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Public Safety Services

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Parking on Campus

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Emergency Operations

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The Public Safety and Health Department maintains the Daily Crime Log and Fire Log for Central Penn College Summerdale and Lancaster locations.

Daily Crime Log

Daily Fire Log

EMERGENCIES:

  • Call 911 OR from any on-campus phone dial 9-911

COMMONWEALTH AGENCIES:

EAST PENNSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT

  • 98 S Enola Dr, Enola, PA 17025
  • (717) 732-3633

 EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT 

  •  2250 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
  • (717) 291-4676

REPORT A CRIME ONLINE TO THE CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE PUBLIC SAFETY & HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Please use this form to report a crime on-campus only. 

It is our practice to attempt not to trace the origin of the person who submits this form unless such is deemed necessary for public safety.

Please provide information on the suspect (i.e., name, address, physical description), date and time of the crime, etc. Explain how you know the crime occurred. Do you know if the crime has already been reported? Provide as much detail as you can. A department representative would like to contact you for a follow-up to the information you provide. You may remain anonymous, but it would aid the officer if they could discuss the information in more detail.

The Public Safety and Health Department is committed to providing the highest quality of service to the college community. To be responsive to community needs, it is important to gather community input. Your feedback about our service will help us improve and achieve our goals.

When completing the form, please provide as much information as possible.

You may be contacted by a member of this department and asked questions to assist him/her with the information you have provided. Please indicate in your narrative if you do not want to be contacted. The investigation process may take approximately 30 days and if necessary, will be extended to assist with the investigation.

You will be notified in writing by the Director of Public Safety and Health about the disposition of your submission.

Click here to fill out the Public Saftey and Health Department Commendation, Suggestion or Complaint Form.

How to survive an active shooter event

Central Penn College has adopted the Run, Hide, Fight program as part of the College’s ongoing commitment to the safety of those who are on our campuses to learn, live, work and visit. Unfortunately, violent attacks in schools and workplace settings are unpredictable.  Acts of violence continue to make headlines across the nation, so it is important to create a plan and know what to do before being confronted in an emergency.

Immediately choose the best way to protect your life. Very quickly, make your best determination of what is occurring and which of the options below will provide the greatest degree of security for you employing the “RUN, HIDE, or FIGHT” protocol:

Run

  • Have an escape route and plan in mind.
  • Make sure it is safe to leave the area you are in. Use your eyes and ears to determine if it is safe
  • Leave your belongings behind.
  • Keep your hands visible.
  • Once in a safe place, call the police and give detailed information about what is happening. Don’t assume someone else has already called the police.

Hide

  • If unable to run from danger, your second option should be to hide.
  • Find a place that’s out of the attacker’s sight and remain quiet.
  • Do not huddle together, because it makes an easy target.
  • Lock and barricade doors and shut off lights

Fight

  • Fighting is a last resort to be used only when your life is in imminent danger.
  • Find an object to use as a weapon, such as a fire extinguisher, backpack, book, or chair.
  • Attempt to incapacitate the attacker; commit to your actions; work with others.

The following video depicts an active attack scenario on a college campus. Video created by Penn State University:

Any questions, please contact our Central Penn College Public Safety and Health Department at 717-728-2364.

Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act Information

The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where information concerning registered sexual offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a State to provide notice, as required by State law, of each institution of higher education in that State at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student.

Pennsylvania's Megan's Law requires the State Police to create and maintain a registry of persons who reside, or is transient, work/carry on a vocation, or attend school in the Commonwealth and who have either been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, or have been adjudicated delinquent of Certain Sexual Offenses in Pennsylvania or another jurisdiction.

The Central Penn College Public Safety and Health Department makes no expressed or implied guarantee of the accuracy of the information provided. Changes may occur at any time and without notice. The Central Penn College Public Safety and Health Department assumes no liability for damages, directly or indirectly, as the result of errors, omissions, or possible inaccuracies.

 

Goal of Fire Safety and Prevention

Provide students, staff, faculty, and visitors with knowledge on the prevention of fires and the protection of people and property. This is achieved through proactive behavior, situational awareness, checking of fire safety and prevention equipment, and through fire safety education.

Overview

College dorm rooms are typically small rooms with copious amounts of furniture and items inside. It does not require much for a fire to ignite and quickly become out of control. Watch this video to gain a better understanding of how dangerous fires can be on college campuses.

A fire can be defined as any open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner. Various devices like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and fire alarms are in place to protect all residents. It is important to be familiar with Central Penn College’s fire safety policies which can be located here and in the student handbook. In addition, there are easy steps and preventions students can take to prevent dangerous fires.

As a reminder, students should notify maintenance through maintenance@centralpenn.edu if they discover any issues with their fire extinguisher, smoke detector, or carbon monoxide detector.

Statistics (2000-2015)

  • The number one cause of fatal campus fires was smoking (29%)
  • Most fatal campus fires occurred off campus (94%)
  • The main factor in most fatal campus fires was alcohol (76%)
    • Another important factor being that smoke alarms were missing or tampered with (the detector was removed, or the batteries were removed) in over half of fatal campus fires (58%)
  • Most fatal fires occurred between midnight and 6:00 A.M. (73%)

Prohibited Items

  • For the safety of all residential students, the following items and materials are prohibited in all residential buildings:
    • Candles, including any open flames as well as incense
    • Compressed gases (Gas with too high of a PSI as determined by maintenance)
    • Any flammable liquids including but not limited to kerosene, oil, etc.
    • Fireworks
    • Space heaters
    • Halogen lamps
    • Live, cut Christmas trees as well as wreaths
    • Electrical appliances that have a high electrical current-draw
    • Window air conditioners
  • Possession or presence of any of these prohibited items in residential buildings will result in disciplinary action as deemed necessary.

 

General Fire Safety Regulations

  • Fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, fire alarm panels, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors are for the protection of all persons on campus and are not to be tampered with. Those who are found to be in violation of this regulation are subject to disciplinary action as deemed necessary.
    • If you see something, say something. Residents can use the SMS texting service uTip to report any violations of fire safety on campus (uTip allows the ability to remain anonymous).
  • Fire extinguishers are required to be easily accessible and must not be obstructed by any items.
  • Smoking is prohibited within a minimum distance of 20 feet from any residential unit.
    • Violations of this policy will receive judicial sanctions followed by a $25 fine for future violations.
  • State fire and panic regulations require those halls, stairways, and stairwells be kept clear of furniture, obstacles, boxes, bicycles, etc.
  • Charcoal grills are to be used at least 15 feet from any buildings and stored inside when cool.
    • Gas grills are not permitted.
  • Kitchen appliances with an exposed heating element are not permitted in campus residences.

If you Discover a Fire

  • Call 911 (from campus phones: dial 9-911)
  • Notify Public Safety: (717) 728-2364 (from campus phones: dial 2364)
  • To help navigate through a fire incident, use A.C.E. (Relocate, Alarm, Confine, Evacuate)
    • Relocate: Relocate yourself and others if safe to do so. Be aware of people who may need assistance.
    • Alarm: Pull the fire alarm to alert others. Fire pull stations are usually near the fire exits and main exits.
    • Confine: Close all doors as you exit a room or office if it is safe to do so.
    • Evacuate: Evacuate from the building using the stairs, fire exits, and main exits. Do not use the elevators. Report to the designated assembly area.
      • If a door feels hot, do not open it. If cool, keep low through the doorway until you are outside.

If you are Trapped in your Room

  • Place material such as clothing or a towel at the base of the door to prevent smoke from entering the room.
  • Open your window, wave a piece of material and shout to attract the attention of people outside.
  • Call 911 to report your location.
  • Stay low, and breathe air near the window.
  • Await rescue.

Fire Drills

  • Fire drills are conducted for all residence halls during the school year to allow occupants to become familiar with and practice their evacuation skills. Drills are conducted by Residence Life staff and supervised by the Public Safety department. All persons inside the residence during the drill are required to evacuate the building.
    • Students are instructed to head towards the designated evacuation assembly area which will be posted in the communal areas of their residence buildings and reviewed by the Resident Assistant and Residence Hall Coordinator. After all students are accounted for and Residence Life as well as Public Safety has given approval, residents may return to their residence halls.
    • At least four mandatory supervised fire drills per residence will be conducted (annually).
    • Failure to vacate the residence during a fire drill will result in a disciplinary referral sent to Residence Life and the office of Student Services for disciplinary sanctions.

Fire Extinguishers

  • To properly use a fire extinguisher, remember A.S.S. (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep).
  • Pull the safety pin on the lever.
  • Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not at the top of the flames.
  • Squeeze the lever to eject the powder.
  • Sweep left to right while squeezing the lever. Slowly step back as well if possible.
  • Keep area around fire extinguisher clear so it is easily accessible (do not hang items on it, store items in front of it, etc.)
  • Be mindful of where the fire extinguishers are located in your building.
  • Fire extinguishers are intended for smaller, manageable fires while always having a route of escape.
    • If a fire has already become large and is spreading quickly, do not attempt to extinguish it and immediately evacuate to the designated evacuation assembly area.
  • Do not tamper with or recreationally use a fire extinguisher. Doing so will result in disciplinary action as deemed necessary.
  • Unsure of how to properly handle a fire extinguisher? Watch this video to help familiarize yourself.

Fire Alarms

  • Public Safety Officers will investigate all safety alarms on campus property.
  • Automatic fire alarms will notify the local fire department and dispatch emergency services to the area.
  • Do not tamper with or “prank” pull a fire alarm pull station. Doing so will result in disciplinary action as deemed necessary.
  • If a fire alarm is activated:
    • Remember R.A.C.E. and P.A.S.S. as every incident will be different.
    • Never ignore the alarm. Always locate the nearest exit of the building to evacuate to the designated evacuation assembly area.
    • Call 911 and Public Safety as soon as possible.

Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • Be mindful of where the smoke detectors are in your building relative to a microwave, stove, oven, or other cooking appliances.
  • If a smoke detector activates:
    • Notify Public Safety immediately and quickly determine if you can sense smoke or a fire. If you are unsure, immediately leave the building to the designated evacuation assembly area.
    • If you detect a fire, follow the R.A.C.E. and P.A.S.S. procedures to get to safety.
    • If no smoke or fire is detected, ensure Public Safety has been notified and do not alter the smoke detector.
  • If a carbon monoxide detector activates:
    • Immediately evacuate from the building to the designated evacuation assembly area.
    • Call 911 and notify Public Safety immediately
  • Never tamper with smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors (do not remove the batteries, cover the detector, etc.). Doing so will result in disciplinary action as deemed necessary.
    • Do not attempt to resolve an issue using a fire alarm panel. Public Safety shall be notified and will assess the issue as needed.

Cooking

  • If a fire starts inside a microwave:
    • Keep the door closed and unplug the unit.
    • Use the P.A.S.S. method with the fire extinguisher if feasible.
    • Notify Public Safety immediately.
    • Always be mindful of what you are cooking and never leave an activated stove or microwave unattended.
  • Keep the area around where you cook clean.
  • Store flammable items in cupboards or at least a few feet away from the stove or microwave.
  • Never leave a stove, oven, or microwave turned on.
  • Use only microwave-safe food containers or dishes. (Ex: plastic, paper, cardboard, tinfoil, metal, etc., should not be placed inside a microwave).
  • Microwaves should always be plugged into a wall socket.

Electronics

  • Do not overload outlets.
  • Do not cover used wall outlets with any objects or material.
  • Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn.
  • Keep portable electronics out of the bathroom areas to avoid a short-circuit spark.
  • Laptops should not remain on beds, sofas, or blankets for an extended period in order to prevent overheating and possible burning.

Smoking

  • All campus buildings are smoke-free environments.
    • Designated smoking areas are marked and restrictions are posted.
  • Smoking is prohibited within a minimum distance of 20 feet from any residential unit.
    • Violations of this policy will receive judicial sanctions followed by a $25 fine for future violations.
  • After smoking in the designated smoking areas, ensure the cigarette and ash is completely extinguished before disposing in the receptacle.
  • Cigarette butts and ashes should not be disposed of into a trash can as the embers could ignite a fire.

For more information regarding fire safety and prevention, review the following websites below.

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