JMUPD CFS# 2007-003245

HPD CFS# 2007-023482

TIMELY NOTIFICATION BULLETIN

Possible Threat to the Community

"Your Right to Know"

April 5, 2007

In compliance with the "Timely Notice" provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998 the University Police are giving notice of a situation that may pose a threat to members of the James Madison University community.

Potential Impersonation of SafeRides Volunteer(s).

No known Suspect(s) at this time.

Description of on-going incident:  On the afternoon of April 4, 2007 the James Madison University Police received notification of the following from the Executive Director of JMU’s SafeRides program:

On the weekend of March 23rd, SafeRides operated four vehicles equipped with large 8.5 by 11 inch magnetic vehicle door signs imprinted with the program’s logo and phone number.  At some point during operations that night, one of the magnetic signs was taken from the side of a vehicle without the driver or navigator being aware of the theft.  It was subsequently reported to the SafeRides officials that on the following weekend an unknown person placed the magnetic sign on the side of a vehicle and drove around posing as an official SafeRides vehicle operator and providing rides home from social events for JMU students.  SafeRides has notified the JMU Police that its volunteers will no longer be using magnetic signs on their cars.  Authentic SafeRides vehicles will be only identified by the member shirts their drivers and navigators will be wearing.  SafeRides wishes to inform JMU students of this faux SafeRides vehicle and to notify students not to get into what appears to be a SafeRides vehicle if the driver is alone or if the driver and “navigator” are not wearing the blue SafeRides shirts. 

To verify any SafeRides vehicle you can call the SafeRides Office at 540.568.7433.

It can be assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members of the community.  It is the duty of the institution to warn of possible "dangerous conditions" on or near its campus, and at affiliate organizations off campus; an "affirmative duty" exists to warn persons associated with this university of possible peril at the hands of some third party or parties.

Anyone with information related to this event or the suspect may call the JMU Police at 568-6913, make contact with them by e-mail at publicsafety@jmu.edu, or anonymously through the “Silent Witness”  website:  http://www.jmu.edu/pubsafety/SilentWitness.shtml . Alternative means of reporting may be made to Crime Solvers at 574-5050, contact with the Harrisonburg Police at (540) 434-2545; report in person to the Harrisonburg Public Safety  Building Street, 101 N. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801, located on the Northwest corner of North Main and Elizabeth Streets; or on the web at the HPD “Contact Us” website: http://www.ci.harrisonburg.va.us/index.php?id=299  .

The incident was reported to HPD on 04/05/2007 as CFS#  2007-023482.

Thank you.