Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 | 2 a.m.
UNLV Police Services unveiled its latest safety tool this week.
The RebelSAFE app aims to provide a safe environment to the 35,000 students, faculty and staff who frequent the university’s campuses, according to officials.
The app delivers safety alerts and allows users to utilize campus safety resources in addition to a bevy of other services to enhance the safety of the university community.
“We are proud to add another layer of safety and protection to the campus community,” said José Elique, the UNLV police chief. “Students and employees thrive when they are free and safe to focus on their work. RebelSAFE provides the peace of mind to quickly connect with us at any time.”
UNLV saw 134 total crimes occur in-and-around the campus in 2016, up from 117 reported crimes in 2015, according to UNLV records.
RebelSAFE includes a speed-dial option for students to request a late-night campus safety escort or to access emergency services at the touch of a button.
Users can also report crime tips, speak with police dispatchers using text-based communication, and send their location to a trusted contact via GPS.
“We want everyone on campus to feel safe at every hour,” Elique said. “We’re proud of the services we provide, and RebelSAFE makes obtaining those services effortless.”
The smartphone app, developed by App Armor, is available for free via download on both the iTunes and the Google Play stores.
The app is just one of the multiple layers of protection, notification and other safety features the UNLV campus offers, in case of an emergency.
RebelSAFE Alerts, the campus’s emergency notification system, sends text messages and emails to all enrolled cellphones and email accounts in the event of an emergency or closure at the university.
University officials also post alert messages to the school’s social media platforms, campus building video monitors, classrooms and the UNLV homepage. The university routinely tests this system to ensure it’s working properly.
UNLV Police Services also partnered with the Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (CSUN), to build 18 new emergency phone systems that include live streaming video and speakers on campus.
The phone towers are being erected strategically around campus for instant access to UNLV police dispatch. The towers should be completed by the end of this semester.
