The San Diego State University Police Department is releasing a new mobile app that enables students, staff and visitors to reach the university police department quickly and easily from their smart phones.
‘Aztec Shield’ can be used in both emergencies and non-emergencies and is available at no charge to android and iPhone users.
The app can summon help with just two touches – one to open the app and one to hit the red 'get help’ button. SDSU police will respond in minutes. If activated off-campus the app routes the call to the nearest 911 call center where the person’s location is provided to emergency responders.
“Aztec Shield is intended to be just one more way for our community to get in touch with us,” Lamine Secka, Chief of Police at SDSU said. “With today’s evolving technology, we are always looking at ways to maximize that technology in the name of safety.”
The app has six major functions including, emergency calling, live tracking of campus shuttles, mobile text reports of pictures and video, virtual safety escorts, access to campus emergency procedures and interactive crime mapping.
Campus police stressed the app should not be used as a replacement for 911, it simply provides another way to communicate with the police department.
The iReports feature, which can be used anonymously, allows users to send text messages along with photos and videos directly to SDSU Police.
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The Friend Watch feature is a peer-to-peer safety service that allows users to designate a group of friends to receive notifications. Emergency procedures are available at the touch of a button within the app and are regularly updated.
The interactive crime map is updated in conjunction with the campus crime log and shows locations of recent crimes on and around campus.
The campus shuttle tracker is likely to get the most use. It allows users to track the location of the Red and Black and Library shuttles as well as the Late Night Safety Escort vehicle.
Other ways to access information include the department website, Facebook, Twitter and other campus emergency communications channels.
