After three recent assaults near campus, UW-Milwaukee and the UWM Police Department have been encouraging students to download the safety-related app called RAVE Guardian. Many students have been wondering what this app is, what it entails and how an app can keep them safe while on campus.
We hear your concerns about the recent incidents near campus. Safety is our top priority. With this in mind, we encourage you to sign up for RAVE Guardian app. Users can interact with @uwmpolice and choose a “guardian” to virtually walk them home. https://t.co/jnpsCtMV44
— UW-Milwaukee (@UWM) November 20, 2019
The app may be the solution to student safety when B.O.S.S. and SAFEWALK are not available, according to UWM Police Chief Joseph LeMire. There are three main features of the safety app that student can utilize, especially when walking alone.
LeMire described the chat feature as giving students, faculty and staff the ability to text message with the police department. This feature allows pictures, videos and messages to be sent directly to the UWM Police department, either anonymously or not. LeMire acknowledged the concern that victims may not be able to utilize this feature in the midst of an incident and encourages bystanders to use the app if they see something.
Another feature he highlights is the “virtual safe-walk.” This part of the app allows someone to designate a friend as their guardian while walking alone. The person using the app then can let that person know how long it will take them to get where they are going by setting the safe-walk feature for that amount of time. The guardian can “watch by GPS location, to watch [their friend] walking home and see if [they] stopped in one particular area for a period of time,” according to LeMire. The two people can also utilize a chat feature during the walk, keeping open communication. If the person walking feels they are in danger or perceives a potential threat, they are then able to communicate this with their guardian.
Lastly, LeMire talked about the emergency button feature of the app. He explained that “if location services are on and [someone] hits that emergency button, [the UWM police] will get [the] GPS location and profile” of the person who hit it. The profile includes emergency contacts, vehicles, campus employment and medical information, if the app user chooses to disclose this information.
On the UWM Police Department website, there is a tutorial for the app as well as more information about RAVE Guardian.