Safety Orientations – Educating the Yale Community

Throughout the year, Yale Police and Security meet with staff, faculty, and students to discuss safety tips and available security services. These include the LiveSafe App, lockout services, blue light emergency phones, nighttime shuttle services, walking escorts, and emergency alert messages. They also explain how police and security work together and the differences between the two units. Members of the Yale community are encouraged to utilize these services and keep safe by using common sense and good judgment in certain situations. 

Depending upon the audience, the orientation is given by either Police or Security or a combination of the two. At the beginning of the academic year, there are presentations for incoming students that include a short video covering an overview of safety services, tips, and other valuable information for students new to Yale and New Haven. It is a busy time of year, with Yale Public Safety doing about 70 – 80 sessions throughout August and September.

During the rest of the year, many departments across campus request a safety session explicitly targeted at staff and/or faculty, hosted by Yale Security or Yale Police. Recently, there have been several office relocations to the Science Park neighborhood on Winchester Avenue. The security team lead by Duane Lovello, Director of Security Operations, led several safety orientations at those locations. 

Most attendees, new to working in that area of town, asked questions about various security resources, parking, and shuttle service. Duane and his Security Systems partner, Sheldon Gaitson, explained the LivSafe App, walking escorts, use of video cameras, and provided some safety tips like not walking alone at night, and situational awareness. “It is always great to have face-to-face conversations with people about safety, answer their questions, and also understand their concerns,” said Duane. The team also takes suggestions from staff about lighting and fields other complaints. Most times, building issues are passed along to Yale Facilities to address. 

“If a business unit wants a presentation, we are more than happy to accommodate. It is an important part of our job to educate people on all the services available to them,” said Duane.

You can request an awareness briefing online. When asked to log in, please use your Yale NetID and password as credentials.