Dec. 14: High winds in the forecast tomorrow, watch for damage to trees

Dear University Community,

The National Weather Service is calling for very strong winds in the area tomorrow – sustained winds between 30-50 miles per hour, with gusts up to 80 miles per hour.

The Public Safety Team and Facilities Management are monitoring forecasts and conditions. Because high winds can damage and break tree limbs, Facilities crews are walking campuses today to check for any concerns. The university has proactively pruned trees on an annual schedule, so we do not anticipate damage that could create a hazard to pedestrians, vehicles on roads or in parking lots. However, you should avoid parking under trees and walking under trees when possible tomorrow.

Please be aware of your surroundings tomorrow. If a tree sustains damage, it will be marked and visually blocked off, such as with caution tape; do not remove barriers or travel through an area that is blocked off. If wind damage requires that larger areas of a campus are closed, we will communicate that closure via email.

If you see a damaged tree or other wind damage, please call Facilities Management immediately at 970-491-0077 to report it.

Thank you,

The Public Safety Team

Tuesday, Oct. 10: Information about Fort Collins police window peeper investigation near Main Campus

As a courtesy, we are sharing information from Fort Collins Police Services regarding a window peeping incident in a neighborhood heavily populated by CSU students. The FCPS press release is available at https://www.fcgov.com/news/index.php?id=8139.

Anyone with information regarding this incident who has not already spoken to police is asked to call Fort Collins Police Services Detective David Guy at 970-416-2026.

Resources:

• CSU student Victim’s Assistance Team is provided by the Women and Gender Advocacy Center, this team responds 24/7 to assault victims and their families and provides confidential support. Call 970-492-4242 and ask to speak with an advocate.
• Women and Gender Advocacy Center provides confidential resources to students including academic, medical, and emotional support. Call 970-491-6384 during business hours Monday-Friday.
• CSU Health Network provides confidential medical and emotional support services to students. Counseling Services: (970) 491-6053
• SAVA is a community resource for sexual assault survivors.
• The Employee Assistance Program provides mental health support to employees.
• To report concerns, contact the Office of Title IX Program and Gender Equity  online at https://titleix.colostate.edu/, call (970) 491-1715 or email Titleix@colostate.edu.

Wednesday, Sept. 29: Potential stalking behavior reported to CSUPD, call CSUPD if seen on a campus

The individual in this photograph was contacted by Colorado State University Police Officers after a female student reported that he was engaging in possible stalking behavior.

CSUPD received calls earlier this summer about his repeated visits to regularly scheduled student activity, where he would take pictures of students involved. A student who was photographed this summer at the student activity noticed him outside of her off-campus residence earlier this week. He was taking photos of her, and she also saw him outside of an academic building on CSU’s Main Campus while she was heading to class.

The suspect is not affiliated with Colorado State University and, in addition to investigating his behavior, CSUPD has taken steps to protect the victim of his alleged behavior by issuing an exclusionary order, which means he cannot be on any property owned by the university.

If you see him on a university campus, please call CSUPD immediately at 970-491-6425 and report his location.

Safety Tips Regarding Stalking Behavior

• Be aware of your surroundings – you hear this often from police and other safety officials, but paying attention to where you are and what’s happening around you is critical to identifying if your safety is at risk.
• Document stalking behaviors, even if you are unsure if there is a pattern or you have not decided to report a concern to the police. Write down the time, date, place, and a description of what happened and who may have been engaging in talking behaviors, such as what the person was wearing, driving, etc. Capture as much detail as possible.

• If a stalker knows how to contact you, keep any evidence (screenshots, voicemails, text messages, etc.) and document all contact from your stalker, but do not respond.

• If you feel you are being followed, cross the street, yell, run and look for a well-lit area or occupied building. If you are driving, drive to a police department or other public place, or call a friend who can meet you at your destination so you are not alone.
• Keep your doors and windows locked and keep your curtains drawn.
• Limit the amount of personal information you post online and on social media accounts. Consider the risk of sharing information that identifies your location, vacation plans, daily schedule, etc.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, get to a safe place and call or text 9-1-1 for help.
• Use CSUPD’s free SafeWalk service if you’re on a campus anytime from dusk until dawn and want a safe escort to your car or another location within in a three block radius of a campus. https://police.colostate.edu/safe-walk/

Resources:

• CSU student Victim’s Assistance Team is provided by the Women and Gender Advocacy Center, this team responds 24/7 to assault victims and their families and provides confidential support. Call 970-492-4242 and ask to speak with an advocate.
• Women and Gender Advocacy Center provides confidential resources to students including academic, medical, and emotional support. Call 970-491-6384 during business hours Monday-Friday.
• CSU Health Network provides confidential medical and emotional support services to students. Counseling Services: (970) 491-6053
• SAVA is a community resource for sexual assault survivors.
• The Employee Assistance Program provides mental health support to employees.
• To report concerns, contact the Office of Title IX Program and Gender Equity  online at https://titleix.colostate.edu/, call (970) 491-1715 or email Titleix@colostate.edu.

Sept. 14: Indecent exposure incidents reported to CSUPD

At approximately 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, multiple individuals reported a male, described by witnesses as either white or Latinx, in his 20s, with short black hair and a mustache, parked in a dark gray four door sedan. The male was unclothed and masturbating. He was first observed in the parking lot at the corner of Plum and Shields Streets, then drove away and was later reported a short time later by another witness on the east side of the Westfall Hall parking lot. The suspect was last seen driving north on Shields Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call CSUPD at 970-491-6425.

Resources:

• CSU student Victim’s Assistance Team is provided by the Women and Gender Advocacy Center, this team responds 24/7 to assault victims and their families and provides confidential support. Call 970-492-4242 and ask to speak with an advocate.
• Women and Gender Advocacy Center provides confidential resources to students including academic, medical, and emotional support. Call 970-491-6384 during business hours Monday-Friday.
• CSU Health Network provides confidential medical and emotional support services to students. Counseling Services: (970) 491-6053
• SAVA is a community resource for sexual assault survivors.
• The Employee Assistance Program provides mental health support to employees.

Safety tips:

• Report to police anyone who is behaving suspiciously by calling or texting 911 from any campus to reach CSUPD.
• Do not confront or engage someone who is behaving suspiciously; call police immediately.
• Report illegal or suspicious behavior immediately. Delaying a report can mean that police are not able to contact a suspect.

Message to undie run organizers and those considering attending

Dear CSU students:

We know that the non-university-sponsored undie run is scheduled for May 1. This run is unauthorized and not approved by the university.

This email is a direct message to the run organizers and to anyone considering attending.

To those considering attending:

• We ask that none of you participate in or attend the run. The run has never been approved, organized or supported by the university. Among other things, it poses a safety concern to our community.
• This year, there is an added concern for public health, exposing yourself and others to COVID, including new and more contagious variants.
• The undie run has historically been an occasion where non-consensual groping has occurred. If you choose to go, ask for explicit, verbal consent before touching another person. If someone chooses to assault you, you can contact CSUPD at 970-491-6425 or by telling an officer in person, or contact the CSU Victim Assistance Team 24-hour hotline at 970-492-4242.
• The run is touted as a CSU student tradition. However, most years it has not been organized by students.
• Non-students who are not part of the CSU community attend the event every year for the sole purpose of taking photos and videos of participants in their underwear (without their permission), and then keep those photos for personal use or to post online. The university – and participants – have no control over how those photos are used or distributed.
• The run annually costs the university between $10,000-$15,000 in your tuition money due to damages to property and safety concerns. Since the run began several years ago, the university has spent approximately $165,000-170,000 of student money to cover these costs.
• Police will be present to identify any individuals who are involved in illegal activity. Students also will be held accountable through the conduct system.

To the organizers of the event:

• We have been notified by Larimer County that this unauthorized gathering is in violation of current public health guidance. You may be held civilly and criminally responsible for violating those orders.
• Violation of a public health order is a misdemeanor and can be punished by a fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. You also can be held responsible for the costs of abating any resulting illnesses (https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19-All-Public-Health-Order-Enforcement-FAQ-3.31.20.pdf).
• Any organized event on university property also requires the organizers to purchase liability insurance. If anyone is injured or harmed, you can be held legally and financially responsible.
• Individuals organizing or promoting this event, including on social media accounts, are responsible for this event and its consequences.

University employees do talk to students who we work closely with about the run each year. We have identified organizers in the past. We are asking that anyone with information about individuals involved in promoting or organizing the run to contact Marc Barker at Marc.Barker@colostate.edu or 970-491-0601.

Please help us end this gathering, which causes harm to individuals, property, and the community.

Thank you,

The Public Safety Team

March 24, 2021 – Stabbing reported at University Village Apartments in Campus West area

Update, March 25, 10:25 a.m.: CSUPD investigates non-fatal stabbing at University Village Apartments, identify suspect

At 6:56 p.m., Wednesday, March 24, Colorado State University Police Department, along with other local law enforcement agencies, responded to a report of a stabbing in Building 28 at the University Village Apartment complex at 1600 W Plum Street. The University Village Apartment complex is CSU university housing located near Main Campus in the Campus West neighborhood.

The victim spoke to CSUPD dispatch and reported she had locked herself in her apartment while the suspect remained outside. The suspect subsequently barricaded himself inside his own nearby apartment for several hours. Residents who live in the building were evacuated to a nearby location, along with residents in nearby apartment buildings.

At 8:26 p.m., police assisted the victim in leaving her apartment. She received medical care for serious, but non-life threatening injuries, and was transported to Poudre Valley Hospital for further treatment and care.

Police continued to try to make contact with the suspect in an attempt for a peaceful resolution, but were unsuccessful in reaching him. Several hours into the incident, smoke was seen coming from the apartment where the suspect was barricaded. Police continued to attempt to make contact with the suspect and assess if the apartment was safe for them to enter. University Facilities Management employees shut gas off to the building at the request of CSUPD due to fire concerns.

At 11:43 p.m., police, including the Larimer County Regional SWAT team, entered the apartment and found the suspect deceased. At 12:05 a.m., an all clear was issued.

The suspect’s identity and cause and manner of death will be released by the Larimer County Coroner’s Office at a later time. The suspect was a former student at CSU who recently graduated and had been currently employed by the university as an hourly employee.

The victim’s name is not being released at this time because this is an ongoing investigation. The victim and suspect were acquainted as neighbors in the same apartment complex.

Resources:

• CSU Health Network provides confidential medical and emotional support services to students. Counseling Services: (970) 491-6053 and https://health.colostate.edu/mental-health-resources/.
• Employee Assistance Program provides information about mental health resources to employees. More at https://eap.colostate.edu/.
• Women and Gender Advocacy Center provides confidential resources to students including academic, medical, and emotional support. Call 970-491-6384 during business hours Monday-Friday.
• CSU student Victim Assistance Team is provided by the Women and Gender Advocacy Center, this team responds 24/7 to assault victims and their families and provides confidential support. Call 970-492-4242 and ask to speak with an advocate.
• SAVA, a local organization that provides crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling for all those affected by sexual violence in Northern Colorado, can be reached at savacenter.org/.

CSU All Clear 12:10 a.m.: Police have determined that there is no ongoing threat to the CSU University Village community or the public. Please continue to avoid the area (City Park Ave, between Plum & Elizabeth Street) for the next several hours while police continue their investigation. There will be no additional updates tonight. If available, updates will be shared at https://safety.colostate.edu/ on March 25.

Resources for students, faculty and staff who may be impacted:

• CSU Health Network provides confidential medical and emotional support services to students during business hours – https://health.colostate.edu/mental-health-resources/
• Employee Assistance Program provides information about mental health resources to employees – https://eap.colostate.edu/

CSU Alert update 10:18 p.m.: CSU University Village residents are instructed to shelter-in-place. All others, avoid area of City Park Ave, between Plum & Elizabeth Street. When available, updates will be posted at www.safety.colostate.edu and emailed to all students, faculty, and staff.

CSU alert update 8:40 p.m.: Local police agencies remain on scene of reported stabbing at CSU University Village Apartments. The injured person is receiving medical attention for what initially appears to be non-life threatening injuries. Continue to avoid the area of City Park Ave, between Plum and Elizabeth Streets. Updates, when available, will be shared via email and posted at this site.

CSU alert update 8:06 p.m.: CSUPD and other area law enforcement agencies quickly arrived on scene. One injury is reported, injured person is alert. Continue to avoid the area.

CSU Alert 7:35 p.m.: Stabbing reported at CSU University Village Apartments in Campus West neighborhood. Avoid area – City Park & Plum Street. Information will be updated here when more details area available.

This is a map of the area to avoid.

CSU open on normal schedule Tuesday, March 16

Since the first flakes of this historic snow storm hit the ground, our Facilities Management crews have been working nearly around the clock to clear sidewalks, parking lots and roads on our campuses, along with addressing power outages at some university buildings. All power has been restored.

CSU will be open tomorrow and all classes and activities are on a normal schedule. As you prepare to return to our campuses tomorrow, please keep in mind that digging out from this significant level of snow will require several days, and is expected to be completed at the end of the week. Please plan your travel – both to your main location as well as if you walk or drive across campuses – accordingly.

• The Oval is closed while tree crews assess potential damages. Although initial reports are that the historic elms came through the storm fairly well, some limbs are broken and need to be removed.
• Don’t park or walk under trees; our crews are working with tree trimming services in the community to remove broken limbs from trees all across university grounds. This work may take up to three to four weeks to clear all concerning limbs from trees.
• Shields Street and Prospect Street underpasses are closed.
• Some sidewalks or parking areas may be blocked off; please detour around them.
• Give yourself extra time and wear sturdy shoes with a good tread. Conditions may be slick as snow melts and refreezes each night.

It’s worth noting that hundreds of our Facilities Management employees and ROTC students arrive on campuses at 3 a.m. during or after a storm to clear snow. During this storm, they have worked several 12 hour shifts to remove snow (shoveling, plowing, etc.,) alone. Their work to ready campuses after a storm includes clearing 4.5 million square feet of parking lots, more than 162 miles of sidewalks, and nearly 16 miles of roads on campuses. (Here’s more on what it takes to get campuses ready after a storm.)

Students, faculty and staff who cannot make it to a campus tomorrow should work directly with their instructors and supervisors to make appropriate arrangements.

CSU closing, canceling all activities Monday, March 15

CSU is closing and canceling all operations tomorrow, Monday, March 15. All in-person, hybrid and remote classes and operations (meetings, work functions) are closed/canceled. This closure includes all COVID screening and testing sites.

For more information about weather related decisions and how they are communicated, see https://source.colostate.edu/university-guidelines-weather-closure/.

CSU employees with essential or emergency duties should coordinate with their supervisors or directors to determine their work status. These employees may include, but are not limited to, CSU Police, Facilities Management, Housing & Dining, Environmental Health Services, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratories, and student-facing services.

Check www.safety.colostate.edu for updates on the status of operations at the university. Information also will be available on local media outlets and CSU’s social media networks.

Please watch local news outlets and local agency websites for information about travel and continue to avoid all travel this evening because driving conditions are becoming dangerous. Unless you are required to be on a campus, please do not report to university grounds on Monday. Parked cars (other than those in designated residence hall lots) on campuses during and immediately after storms make it extremely difficult for Facilities Management crews to clear snow from parking lots and streets.

CSU closed Sunday, March 14

CSU is closing all buildings and operations tomorrow, Sunday, March 14, due to current snowfall and the continued weather forecast of significant snowfall this evening and tomorrow. All academic and other official university activities (both in person and remote) are canceled.

A decision about the university’s status on Monday, March 15, will be communicated by 5:30 a.m. Monday morning. For more information about weather related decisions and how they are communicated, see https://source.colostate.edu/university-guidelines-weather-closure/.

CSU employees with essential or emergency duties should coordinate with their supervisors or directors to determine their work status. These employees may include, but are not limited to, CSU Police, Facilities Management, Housing & Dining, Environmental Health Services, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratories, and student-facing services.

Check www.safety.colostate.edu or www.source.colostate.edu for updates on the status of operations at the university. Information also will be available on local media outlets and CSU’s social media networks.

Because of the significant storm approaching, you are advised to avoid all travel because driving conditions are becoming dangerous. Unless you are required to be on a campus, please do not report to university grounds. Parked cars (other than those in designated residence hall lots) on campuses during storms make it extremely difficult for Facilities Management crews to clear snow from parking lots and streets.

CSU closing at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 13

CSU is closing all buildings and operations at 5 p.m. today, Saturday, March 13, in preparation for the current weather forecast of significant snowfall this evening. All academic and other official university activities (both in person and remote) are canceled after 5 p.m.

A decision about university status tomorrow, Sunday, March 14, has not been made. The Public Safety Team will decide no later than 9 a.m. tomorrow, when sufficient information about how the storm develops and will continue to develop is available from the National Weather Service, and information about city and county operations is updated. For more information about weather related decisions, see https://source.colostate.edu/university-guidelines-weather-closure/.

CSU employees with essential or emergency duties should coordinate with their supervisors or directors to determine their work status. These employees may include, but are not limited to, CSU Police, Facilities Management, Housing & Dining, Environmental Health Services, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratories, and student-facing services.

Check www.safety.colostate.edu or www.source.colostate.edu for updates on the status of operations at the university. Information also will be available on local media outlets and CSU’s social media networks.

Because of the significant storm approaching, you are advised to avoid all travel after 5 p.m. because driving conditions may become dangerous. Please not drive or park to campus after 5 p.m. unless you are assigned emergency duties. Parked cars (other than those in designated residence hall lots) on campuses during storms make it extremely difficult for Facilities Management crews to clear snow from parking lots and streets.

Weather closure Feb 15

All classes, operations on normal schedule Tuesday, Feb. 16

CSU will be open Tuesday, Feb. 16, and all face-to-face, remote and hybrid classes, operations and activities are on a normal schedule.

As a reminder, CSU began Phase 3 instruction at the beginning of this week; all face-to-face, online and hybrid classes are now meeting.

During inclement weather or an emergency closing the university, you are urged to visit the university’s web resources at www.SOURCE.colostate.edu and www.safety.colostate.edu for information about the status of the university. Information about a closure also will be shared though the university’s social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter, as well as via a university-wide email to all employees and students, and a text message to subscribers.

University closing, all classes canceled, operations suspended for Monday, Feb. 15

Colorado State University will close on Monday, Feb. 15; all in-person, hybrid and remote classes and operations (meetings, work functions) are closed/canceled due to extreme cold weather moving into the region. Facilities Management is asking that individuals avoid coming onto campuses and entering buildings.

All COVID-19 CSU saliva screening and nasal swab testing appointments scheduled for Monday are canceled and all CSU screening and testing sites are closed.

COVID-19 public health standards require that increased outdoor air be circulated through buildings. Unfortunately, the university’s heating systems will likely not be able to keep building temperatures above suitable levels for operations because of the extremely cold weather.

While we realize that some employees working remotely could work even while in-person operations are closed, the Public Safety Team is formally canceling all operations in the interest of equity.

CSU employees with emergency duties or who are essential employees are asked to coordinate with their supervisors or directors to determine their work status. Emergency employees include, but are not limited to, CSU Police, Facilities Management, Housing, Environmental Health Services, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratories.

Closure information and updates on the status of operations at the university is posted at this site. Please continue to check this website, local media outlets, CSU’s social media networks and SOURCE.colostate.edu for updates.

Report of menacing

Update to menacing report – Jan. 22. 9 a.m.

All Clear: The suspect in this menacing incident called CSUPD after seeing the alert. CSUPD is investigating the incident to determine if a weapon was displayed. The suspect is cooperating in the investigation. Anyone who saw the incident or has information about the incident, call CSUPD at 970-491-6425.

Menacing report – Jan 21

CSUPD received a report of a male showing a gun to a pedestrian following a confrontation in the Moby parking lot at 9:15 p.m. between three individuals a vehicle and the pedestrian. The driver of the vehicle showed a gun to the pedestrian during a verbal exchange. No one was injured in the confrontation.

Two males and one female were in the vehicle. Vehicle is described as a red Mazda CX5 or Nissan Murano/Rouge-type of SUV. Partial license plate beginning with the letters AC.

The vehicle was last seen going east on Laurel Street away from Main Campus.

Call CSUPD at 970-491-6425 if seen.

Security camera still shots of the vehicle are below.

Indecent exposure incident reported outside of Edwards Hall

Jan 20, 2021

Colorado State University Police Department received a report of a window peeper in a tree on the north side of Edwards Hall. The suspect was seen masturbating while in the tree shortly before midnight on Jan. 19.

The suspect is described by multiple witnesses as a male wearing a very dark, possibly green, puffy or thick winter coat and black pants. He was carrying a large backpack. Through the use of security camera footage, CSUPD believes the suspect was driving a white 2008 to 2010 year Toyota Scion XB. The suspect drove off campus toward the south on Meridian and Whitcomb shortly after midnight, leaving a parking spot on Hughes Street directly north of Academic Village. The suspect is believed to have driven onto Main Campus and parked in that area yesterday at 6 p.m.

Anyone with information is asked to call CSUPD at 970-491-6425.

Resources:

• Women and Gender Advocacy Center provides confidential resources to students including academic, medical, and emotional support. Call 970-491-6384 during business hours Monday-Friday.
• CSU student Victim’s Assistance Team is provided by the Women and Gender Advocacy Center, this team responds 24/7 to assault victims and their families and provides confidential support. Call 970-492-4242 and ask to speak with an advocate.
• CSU Health Network provides confidential medical and emotional support services to students. Counseling Services: (970) 491-6053

Safety tips:

• Residence Halls have multiple levels of security; do not allow anyone to “tailgate” into a residence hall behind you after using your keycard to get entrance into a hall or floor.
• Report to police anyone who is behaving suspiciously by calling 911 from campus to reach CSUPD, or 911 off campus to reach Fort Collins Police Services.
• Keep your residence hall, apartment or home doors and windows locked when you are away from home and at night. Keep your blinds or curtains drawn for privacy.

Safety message to university community

Friday, Jan. 15

Dear University Community,
As inauguration day approaches, there are understandable, heightened concerns among our students, faculty and staff about the safety of our campuses and community members.

We want to reassure you that the Colorado State University Police Department, along with law enforcement agencies from across Northern Colorado and the state, are working together to monitor intelligence. One of our community’s greatest safety strengths is that local and regional law enforcement agencies work and train together routinely; we have strong, mutual relationships that are focused on the community’s collective safety.

At this time, there are no credible threats of violence directed toward the Fort Collins area. CSUPD and our law enforcement colleagues, including state and federal agencies, will remain ready, however, and a plan is in place to respond to safety concerns, should threats emerge, and to swiftly hold those who perpetrate criminal acts legally accountable.
While we believe that our campuses and the city will remain peaceful, there will be increased police vigilance throughout the week.

Colorado State University Police Department remains committed to and focused on safeguarding our community at all times, and we are ready to respond to any safety concerns during these times of uncertainty.

As always, if you see something on our campuses that appears to be a safety concern, please call 9-1-1 as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Colorado State University Police Department
The CSU Public Safety Team