West Virginia University has become the first organization in the state to join the “If you see something, say something” campaign adopted by the federal Department of Homeland Security in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“This is just one more tool for us to help ensure the safety of everyone on campus – students, faculty, staff, visiting fans – that is our top priority,” University Police Chief Bob Roberts said. “We’re participating not because we have any reason to believe that the campus is in any way a target, but we want to take every precaution to ensure that the unthinkable does not happen.”

The campaign, which launches this week in advance of the season’s first home football game on Saturday (Sept. 6), will include posters and public announcements around campus, including on the PRT and at large campus gatherings, such as athletic events and concerts. It will also be promoted on various social media outlets.

Bella and Ginger, UPD’s bomb-sniffing dogs, will be featured in the campaign, which will ask anyone who “sees something” suspicious to “say something” by calling 866.WVWATCH (866.989.2824), a toll-free line monitored by the West Virginia Intelligence Fusion Center, a partnership of federal, local and state law enforcement and public safety agencies. Callers can remain anonymous.

The Department of Homeland Security says “See something, say something” is a simple, effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, and emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper local law enforcement authorities. The campaign was originally used by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has licensed the use of the slogan to DHS for anti-terrorism and anti-terrorism crime-related efforts.

-WVU-

jb/09/03/14

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