College Hall South Update

Department of Public Safety officers received notice of a fire alarm activation in the CHS building. An initial investigation revealed that the alarm was pulled by a third-party security contractor responding to two individuals entering the building without authorization. 

Those individuals exited the building upon hearing the alarm and without incident. We are continuing interviews with staff and residents about what they may have seen or heard during the incident to benefit our security protocols.

This action taken by the security officer, while intended to aid in apprehending the individuals and to protect CHS residents, was a breach of standard security protocols established by DPS and its security vendor. The matter with the third-party security officer is a confidential human resources matter and is being managed appropriately. 

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by this incident but want everyone to be assured that DPS is reinforcing policy awareness among all contracted security personnel. Our patrol and surveillance technologies have been an effective deterrent in reducing incidents of unauthorized residence hall entry. These tools are second only to the support of students who exercise great care in not allowing non-students or staff to enter without proper front desk screening. 

As usual, we remind everyone to be watchful in and around our campus community. Please contact DPS immediately at 202-806-1100 if you see something suspicious near university facilities. Be mindful of your surroundings and coordinate with groups when traveling off-campus. Most importantly, do not allow building access to any individual who cannot provide proof of enrollment or employment with the university.