What is the Safe Place Initiative?

Florida Atlantic University Police Department is committed to the safety of all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning (LGBTQ) students/staff/faculty and visitors.

The mission of the FAUPD Safe Place Initiative is to provide the LGBTQ community with easily accessible safety information and safe places throughout the university they can turn to if they are the victims of crime.

Through the Safe Place Initiative, FAUPD will provide decals to university departments and other organizations for those entities to post as a symbol of safety for the victims of LGBTQ crime.  

Anyone who seeks solace in a Safe Place location can be assured that if they are the victim of a crime, police will promptly be called.

 

Participate in Safe Place

Fill out this form to request a decal to display. This symbol carries some important responsibilities that will greatly assist in protecting LGBTQ victims of crime.

LGBTQ victims will recognize that the Safe Place symbol indicates your business or organization is willing to assist them. By registering as a Safe Place at FAU, you agree to:

(-) Apply the Safe Place decal outside the front entrance of your establishment.  

(-) Allow victims to enter and remain at your premise until FAU Police arrive.

(-) Call, or assist these victims in calling 911 or FAUPD at 561-297-3500.

 

Reporting LGBTQ Crimes

If you or someone you know is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) victim of, or witness to a crime, please report the incident to the police, either during, or immediately after it occurs by calling 911 or FAU Police at 561-297-3500.

The operator needs quick and concise information, such as:

(-) Your injuries: 911 Operator will call medics while talking with you.

(-) The specifics of the crime: What happened?

(-) What was said: Tell the 911 operator and the responding officer if the suspect(s) used words to indicate a hate crime.

(-) If there was a weapon involved: Describe it as a gun, knife, etc.

(-) Description of suspects: Age, race, height, weight, and clothing description of the suspect(s)

(-) Any unusual characteristics: Scars, marks, tattoos, piercings, speech, etc.

(-) Suspect vehicle description: Color, make, model, vehicle license

(-) Direction of travel: Which way did they flee?

Even if you think the crime is insignificant, or that you don’t want to bother the police over small issues, reporting crimes quickly allows the FAU Police Department to:

(-) Respond immediately to the scene to prevent further harm to you or others.

(-) Collect evidence that could be destroyed if not discovered and collected quickly.

(-) Interview witnesses who may otherwise be gone if you delay your call to 911.

(-) Apprehend the suspect(s) quickly so they do not continue to victimize others.

(-) Determine if the suspect(s) are engaged in a pattern of previous and/or ongoing behavior that threatens the community.

(-) Increase community awareness of criminal activity in the area through media notification & alerts.

(-) Develop solutions and/or deterrents to reduce the crime by adding patrols to the area.

PLEASE NOTE:  Someone calling you a derogatory name is not a crime.  It is constitutionally protected free speech.  If the comments are accompanied by threats, threatening behavior, or physical harm, it then becomes a crime.