UT Tyler to Launch Campus Safety App

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler Police Department will launch a free mobile safety app for students and the university community beginning this summer, Mike Medders, police chief, announced. The university purchased the app through RAVE Mobile Safety, a company that has worked in the public safety market for more than 10 years. Officials say with the Patriot Guardian Campus Safety app, users have convenient access – via iPhone and Android smart phones – to the campus police department and 911 call services. Users can make a panic call to the police or report a crime in progress/suspicious activity by voice call or text.

Users may also use the app as a virtual “guardian” by creating a Personal Guardian Network. They can identify friends, roommates, and family as “guardians” along with the UT Tyler campus police. Officials say the app will alert the personal guardians and police if the user has not made it to his or her destination and deactivated the safety timer. UTT officials also note, “Friends and family not affiliated with UT Tyler may also download the app in order to serve as a ‘personal guardian.’ We want to stress to friends and family of UT Tyler students that the app is free for everyone.” For additional information about the Patriot Guardian app, visit http://www.RAVEmobilesafety.com/RAVE-guardian/ or call Medders at (903) 566-7393.