‘Remain vigilant’: TCU Police Department shares student safety tips

Chief Robert Rangel and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Public Safety Adrian Andrews offer safety precautions for students on and off campus.

By Stewart Anne Murdock, Staff Writer

Published Sep 29, 2023

The TCU Police Department is located at 3025 Lubbock Ave., Fort Worth, Texas. (Heesoo Yang/TCU 360)

Recent shootings and criminal activity in student-populated areas has the TCU community concerned about its safety. “Most of my friends and I live right next to campus, and we run into theft, stalking, property invasion and destruction of property,” said senior social work major Annie Doherty. “We always have to be very cautious of our surroundings.” Chief of Police Robert Rangel and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety Adrian Andrews advise TCU students to always travel in groups, especially at night and to stay vigilant at all times. They also want to remind students to use the campus safety escorts when available. Chief Rangel added that it is important to report suspicious activity in detail. “When reporting suspicious activity, be a good witness. Describe exactly what you observe with as many details as possible,” Rangel said.

TCU Police and safety escorts are available to all students on weekdays and weekends. (Stewart Anne Murdock/Staff Writer)

“Give complete descriptions such as gender, race, height, weight, hair color, clothing, etc. If a vehicle is involved, note the color, make, model and, if possible, the license plate,” he said. Andrews also added the importance for students to download the FrogShield app on their mobile devices to inform police of the exact location of emergency situations. “It tracks you by your GPS location to let us know exactly where you are without having to say a word,” Andrews said. The FrogShield app will also protect students in off-campus emergencies by immediately contacting 911 after an incident is reported. Rangel and Andrews added that Fort Worth is planning on increasing law enforcement efforts in areas of concern, and the city has announced several new initiatives to protect public safety. “The City of Fort Worth is not unique in its challenges and its proven strategies as it pertains to ‘big city’ security,” Andrews said. “The Fort Worth Police Department upholds the highest standards of recruiting and employing excellent officers who are dedicated to the department’s commitment to community policing, safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens and reducing the incidence and fear of crime.”