Bolstering efforts to keep campus-goers safe from rape and other crimes, San Diego State’s Police Department has released a smartphone app that can summon help.
Called Aztec Shield, the free app can be used for nonemergencies as well. The latest iPhone version was released last week. Google Play’s version for Android users was updated April 1.
Once downloaded, the app requires two touches — one to open it and one to touch the red “Get Help” button, school officials said.
“If the user takes no other action, the app summons help from SDSU police,” said a news release. “If activated off campus, the app routes the call for help to the nearest 911 call center and the user’s location is provided to emergency responders.”
The app is one of nearly 20 campus apps with similar names and functions created by Incelltechnologies.
SDSU Police Chief Lamine Secka said: “Aztec Shield is intended to be just one more way for our community to get in touch with us. With today’s evolving technology, we are always looking at ways to maximize that technology in the name of safety.”
Campus police said the app should not be considered a replacement for 911, but provides another option for communicating with the police department.
Aztec Shield offers six major functions:
- Emergency calling
- Live tracking of campus safety shuttles
- iReports (mobile text reporting with pictures/video)
- Friend Watch (virtual safety escorts)
- Access to campus emergency procedures
- Interactive crime mapping
The iReports feature, which can be used anonymously, allows users to send text messages along with photos and videos directly to SDSU police.
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.
Likely to get the most use is the campus shuttle tracker. It allows users to track the location of the Red and Black and Library shuttles as well as the Late Night Safety Escort vehicle, and see when it is approaching their location.
Besides Aztec Shield, other modes of communicating with the SDSU Police Department include the department website, Facebook, Twitter and other campus emergency communications channels.
