Report an Incident

Emergencies can also be reported by using the RAVE Guardian app from your smartphone. If you are not in a position to speak out loud without endangering yourself or others, use the RAVE Guardian app from your smartphone and text live in real time with Public Safety emergency dispatchers. Send photos of the scene with your text! 

Report Crimes

Public Safety is your police department on campus. All crimes that occur on campus should be reported to Public Safety immediately. If the crime is in progress, please call the emergency line at 508-793-2222 so our police officers can be dispatched. If you wish to report a crime that has already occurred, please call 508-793-2224 and an officer will be sent to take a report from you. 

The simplest way to contact Public Safety is by using the RAVE Guardian app. Through this app, you can communicate directly with the Emergency Dispatcher at Public Safety and you can send photos of any crime in progress.

What happens when I report a crime to Public Safety?

The police officers in Public Safety complete a written police report and then investigate the reported crimes. If the matter is solved and depending on what relationship the alleged offender has to the College, options for accountability may include referring the case to the Office of Student Integrity and Community Standards, the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity, Human Resources, the criminal courts, or any combination therein.

Report Sexual Misconduct or Discriminatory Harassment

This form will be routed to the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity (Hogan 506, 508-793-3336) upon submission. Anonymous reports are permitted and will be reviewed.

Report Concerning or Threatening Behaviors

Please use this form to report distressing behavior that may cause concern but does not constitute an emergency. It is important to report an incident or concern about a student so we can provide assistance.

Campus Security Authorities

Under the Clery Act, the College is required to compile and publish crime statistics in an Annual Security Report. As part of that obligation, members of the College’s community who are considered to be Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are required to report crime statistics for inclusion in the College’s Report. The law defines “Campus Security Authority” as “an official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings.” 

CSAs include, but are not limited to, faculty advisors to student organizations, police and security departments, personnel in the Dean of Students office, the Residence Life office, Housing office, the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity, and other officials who have a significant responsibility for student and campus activities.

In addition to reporting crime statistics, the College also has a responsibility to notify the campus community about any crimes that pose an ongoing threat to the community. Even if you are not sure whether an ongoing threat exists, immediately contact the Holy Cross Department of Public Safety at 508-793-2224.

Because of the Clery Act’s complex crime reporting requirements, it is imperative that we maintain an effective way to manage the reporting. As a result, the College requires CSAs to notify the Department of Public Safety about crime information as soon as they become aware of it by completing the CSA Reporting Form.

Please note: If the Department of Public Safety responds to the scene, your reporting requirement is met and you are not required to complete the form.

CSAs should not investigate crimes or attempt to determine whether in fact a crime occurred. Rather, a CSA’s obligation is to simply report the information as soon as possible.

The College is required to disclose statistics for the following offenses that occur on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the College, and public property within or immediately adjacent to our campus:

• Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
• Negligent manslaughter
• Forcible sex offenses (rape, fondling)
• Non-forcible sex offenses (incest, statutory rape)
• Robbery
• Aggravated assault
• Burglary
• Motor vehicle theft
• Stalking
• Domestic violence
• Dating violence
• Hate crime – any crime where the victim was selected because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, or disability
• All liquor, drug, or weapons law violations resulting in an arrest or disciplinary referral
• Arson

View definitions of the crimes (PDF).

If you are in doubt as to whether a crime is reportable, please err on the side of reporting the matter. With the exception of liquor, drug, and weapons law violations, it is immaterial whether an arrest (or disciplinary referral) is made.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 508-793-2224 or publicsafety@holycross.edu.