LiveSafe App evolves into a community engagement tool

Six years ago, Yale Public Safety introduced the LiveSafe app to the campus community. Almost 20,000 Yale and New Haven community members have downloaded the app since then, turning their phones into mini safety devices. At the touch of a finger on a mobile device, you can call the Yale Police Department (YPD), text in tips, request a walking escort, and track the Yale Shuttle.

What began as four clickable buttons are now eight scrollable cards. Cards include Emergency Options, Walking Escort, Daily Health Check, GoSafe, Track Campus Shuttle, Service Dog Request (schedule a visit with Heidi, YPD’s service dog), Yale Resources (includes information on Yale student counseling and sexual assault assistance), and Visit Yale’s COVID-19 website.

Popular features include Text Tip and Safe Walk. Anyone who has downloaded the app can send an anonymous text tip directly to the YPD and include a photo or video. Students often use the app to request a walking escort at any time of the day or night. You can also find a map pinpointing all Emergency Blue Phones and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) locations on campus.

LiveSafe – Two years of research and promotion

The Public Safety Systems and Services team continually works on enhancements and ways to increase usage to benefit the Yale and New Haven communities. The team includes Sheldon Gatison and Neil Carney, both Access System Specialists and LiveSafe Administrators who work under the guidance of William Goldbach, Assistant Director Public Safety Systems and Services. “We wanted to research how to leverage the LiveSafe app to its fullest potential. This included marketing it more, talking to other universities about how they use it, and working with the vendor to understand all of its capabilities,” said Sheldon Gatison.

The LiveSafe team began to push the limits of what the vendor could offer. They sought to understand what other uses were possible beyond police or 911 calls, to better support and engage the Yale community. The team implemented a feedback tab and has received many suggestions. A record 400 people downloaded the app in February. “All the work and research we’ve put into this is paying off,” said William Goldbach.

The LiveSafe app is free to anyone. While the app is focused on safety, the team wants it to have a fun aspect. “In the beginning, there were misconceptions about the app, but we have gone to great lengths to reassure the community that it is for their safety and also make them aware of these new community outreach benefits,” said Neil Carney.

Future innovations include increased use of Geofencing technology to pinpoint notifications for specific areas or buildings around campus. Also, using LiveSafe to record events and other outreach offered by the YPD Community Engagement Officers, including increased awareness of Heidi and the support she provides to the Yale community

For more information on the LiveSafe app, visit the Public Safety website.