Welcome back...

Welcome back students to Greenville and East Carolina University.   As you begin your 2012-13 school year, please take a moment to consider a few safety tips:

1.  Call the Police first.   Too often students will text a friend and tell them about a problem, then call the police.   The Greenville Police Department is here to help and protect you.    Call the Police First, whenever you see or experience a problem relating to your safety.  Ask the police officers to meet with you so you can tell them about the problem face to face.

2.  Use the buddy system.   Find and get to know your friends and look out for each other.  Keep each other safe.

3.  Lock your apartment every time you leave, including your windows.  Close your blinds.   Too many college-age people leave their apartments unlocked at all hours of the day, for all kinds of reasons.  Thieves know this, and they go around apartment areas just pulling on door handles to see what's open.

4.  If you're at a party and it seems to be getting out of hand,  leave immediately.  Don't try to get involved in a lot of drama at a party.  Alcohol and drama at parties is like gasoline on a fire sometimes.   

5.  Take turns being the designated driver or sober friend.  Somebody needs to be in charge and be watching out for the group.

6.  Never, Never, Never accept rides from strangers.    College students seem to trust everybody, and unfortunately we can't trust everybody in today's world.

7.  Lock your car and remove book bags, GPS units and other electronics, and anything that  may even appear valuable.  Thieves love to break into cars..especially unlocked ones.

8.  Don't let strangers into your apartment.   We all want to believe in the good of others, but unfortunately,  not everyone has the same good-intentions as we do.  Please don't invite strangers into your home.

9.  Get to know your Apartment Manager.   Report any maintenance problems to them promptly and get them to fix things like exterior lighting, broken locks, overgrown bushes, etc..

10.   Please don't binge drink.  You are much more likely to become a victim if you are drunk or under the influence of some impairing substance.

We at the Greenville Police Department want you to have a great school year.  Enjoy your college experiences.  Meet new friends.  Learn and grow.  

Old granddad used to tell me,  "A college education is something that nobody can ever take away from you."   Grand-dad was right..

Stay safe.