Public Safety
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St. John’s University Department of Public Safety provides safety and security services to our community 24 hours per day, every day of the year. We work together with our partners on and off campus to create and maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors. We serve our community in a manner consistent with the values and mission of our University, and welcome you to explore our website and become one of our partners in safety. Contact Public Safety.
The Department of Public Safety at St. John’s University has been entrusted to create and maintain a safe and secure learning environment for the University community. We accomplish this mission in partnership with the entire University community. The Department of Public Safety Command Center is located on the Queens, NY campus at the ROTC Building/McDonald Center. There are additional Command Centers at our Staten Island and Manhattan campuses.
The Department operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The Public Safety team provides a variety of security, and other related services. The Officers can be seen throughout the campus in marked and unmarked vehicles, scooters, foot patrols, bicycle patrol, and fixed post locations. Officers who are assigned to our Community Engagement Team provide our students with additional training in Active Threat Response, Safety in the City, Bystander Intervention Leadership Training, Operation ID, and participate in other safety related events. Our Command Center is staffed 24/7 and utilizes the latest video and communication technology to monitor conditions, dispatch calls for service, and communicate to our community. All uniformed Public Safety personnel are licensed by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, and receive over 25 hours of annual training in various subjects including crime prevention, diversity and sensitivity awareness, customer service, fire and life safety, and best practices and protocols for security and emergency management. They also receive a working knowledge of all applicable city, state, and federal laws. Our Officers are certified by the American Heart Association in First Aid, CPR, and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). There is also several staff and officers that are NYS certified Emergency Medical Technicians. All of our Officers are certified by FDNY as Fire Guards, and our supervisors are certified NYC Fire Safety Directors. Many of our members are former law enforcement officers, first responders, and emergency medical technicians that bring a tremendous amount of additional training and experience to the Department.
St. John’s University Department of Public Safety maintains frequent contact with local law enforcement and first responders and conducts training drills with these partners. Additionally, we collaborate with various city, state, and federal agencies to insure a safe and secure environment.
Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
In response to the Equity and Inclusion Council recommendations, the University recently engaged the services of an outside consultant to evaluate the Department of Public Safety’s culture, staffing, operations, workplace, and communication practices. As a result of their review, the Department of Public Safety will collaborate with Human Resources (i) to ensure that behaviors reflecting an embrace of a culture of equity and inclusion; as well as, excellence in community engagement are integrated into Public Safety’s hiring, training and performance management practices for all positions and (ii) on candidate sourcing to identify and attract more diverse talent, screen candidates for community engagement competencies, and support the department in making the best hiring selections. We will update the University community as we implement recommended changes.
In our continuing quest to ensure we are providing the best possible service to the University Community, Public Safety has engaged social justice educators to provide the department with equity and inclusion training. We are engaging the same team to provide additional training going forward. In addition to ongoing social justice training, the department will undergo additional customer service training as well.
Our Services
Timely Warnings
In the event a situation arises, a campus-wide Public Safety alert will be issued through the University's e-mail system to students, faculty, and staff, and it will be posted on www.stjohns.edu.
In certain circumstances, Public Safety may also issue an emergency text and voice message alert and/or utilize the public address system and digital signs on campus to alert our community.
Emergency Phone System
Clearly marked emergency phones throughout the campuses will summon Public Safety immediately. These are for emergency use only, which can be but are not limited to: car trouble, injury, crime prevention, and need for escort services.
Safety Escort Service
If at any time you are uncomfortable going from one campus point to another, or to your car, Public Safety provides a safety escort service for both the Queens and Staten Island campuses. Safety escorts are provided to varied points on campus, as well as nearby SJU residential and academic facilities. We will also escort you to your car if it is parked on campus, or in the immediate vicinity of campus. This service is provided every day, all hours. Please contact Public Safety for more information.
Public Safety Shuttle Service
Public Safety Shuttle Service will begin operation for the Fall 2023 semester on Wednesday, August 30 at 7 a.m., and end on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The service will operate from 7 a.m.. to 3 a.m., Monday through Friday (when classes are in session) and 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The shuttle van will do a continuous loop, starting at the LIRR Jamaica Station at 7:00 a.m. (Mon-Fri) and picking up/dropping off at the following locations:
- LIRR Jamaica Station (pickup/drop off at 146 St./Archer Ave.)
- Subway: F Train-Homelawn Street/Hillside Avenue(side of Estates Pharmacy)
- Henley Road Residence (Highland Ave side of building)
- Gate 1 (stop sign across from Public Safety booth)
- Public Safety/ROTC Building (please wait in lobby)
- Seton Complex(front of building)
- DePaul Houses (front of houses)
The following shall apply:
- Service is reserved for St. John’s students, faculty, and staff only; all persons will be required to display their StormCard.
- Service information, including the Shuttle Tracking Map can be found on the LiveSafe App.
- No eating of food; drinks with lids or covers are permitted.
- No smoking or vaping.
- No stops other than listed above.
- No inappropriate language.
- LIRR Jamaica Station: Pickup/drop-off is by request after 8 a.m. Please call Public Safety at 718-990-5252 upon arrival at station.
Saturday and Sunday: Shuttle will start at Public Safety/ROTC building. - The last shuttle loop will begin at Gate 1 at 2:15 a.m.
Vehicle Assistance
Public Safety is glad to assist you if you have trouble with your vehicle. We can help with keys locked in vehicle, dead batteries, flat tire, or any other problem. Call Public Safety at 718 990-5252 for assistance.
Lost and Found
Public Safety is the central repository for items lost and found on all of our campuses. If you find a lost item, turn it in to a uniformed SJU Public Safety Officer or bring the item directly to our Command Center. If you have lost an item and want to check if it has been recovered, call Public Safety or email us at [email protected].
Building Access
Public Safety will lock buildings as traffic diminishes and patrol buildings throughout the night to ensure the safety and security on campus.
Students, faculty, and staff are required to have their University StormCard with them at all times, and produce a valid SJU ID for access to computer facilities, University Center, Carnesecca Arena, Libraries, Residence Halls and St. Albert Hall on Queens campus; the gym, Campus Center and Library on Staten Island campus.
Medical Services
In the event of an emergency medical situation call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Notify Public Safety at 718-990-5252 after calling 911.
In the event of a minor injury or illness, contact the Health Services Clinic directly at ext. 6360 or Public Safety at ext. 5252.
Health Services Clinic Location- Queens Campus-Rear entrance of DaSilva Hall (map; directly across from Donovan Hall)
Residence Hall Visitation
Resident students are permitted to have overnight guests, but must fill out an application. Learn how to register overnight guests online.
Contact Us
Main Command Center 718-990-5252
Queens Campus - Emergency Number Ext. 5252
| Public Safety ROTC Building/McDonald Center Goethals Avenue by Gate 6 718-990-6281 | Directions and Map |
| Dean of Student Life University Center 718-990-6774 | Director of Residence Life Donovan Hall, Room C-16 718-990-2417 |
Staten Island Campus - Emergency Number Ext. 4487(8)
| Public Safety Spellman Hall, Room 116 Office Number: 718-390-4487(8) | Directions and Map |
| Dean of Student Life University Center 718-390-4131 |
Manhattan Campus
| Public Safety Front Desk 212-277-5155 | Directions |
International Campuses
| Rome Public Safety Office of Global Studies 718-990-6105 | Directions |
Health Service Office Hours
Queens Campus
Mondays - Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Closed every Friday from May 27 to August 5.
Other Resources
718-733-7233 or 718-RED-SAFE
The Department of Public Safety has established an automated 24-hour confidential tip line. This tip line enables anyone in the University community to report information to Public Safety anonymously, while being recorded on an answering machine. The number is: or 718-RED-SAFE. No attempt will be made by Public Safety to identify callers; should a caller wish to be contacted by Public Safety, he or she should include contact information in the voice message.
If this is an incident that requires an immediate response, call Public Safety at 718-990-5252. Confidential Tip Line messages are reviewed each business day and are addressed during normal business hours.
In the event it becomes necessary to close the University because of an emergency or extraordinary event, such as severe weather, notice of such a closing or a delayed opening will be available to the University community through several sources:
- Call 718-990-2000 for detailed information. Please DO NOT call the Office of Public Safety on any of the St. John’s campuses, as these calls tie up the lines for safety emergencies.
- St. John's Web site will carry a written notice with the same updated information as provided by phone.
- Area television and radio stations will include St. John’s in their listing of school closings and delayed openings. These include WINS 1010 AM and WCBS 880 AM, which make recurring announcements throughout the day, usually beginning around 5 a.m.
- Text and voice messaging may be employed in case of an emergency on or around one or more St. John’s campuses.
- Should the decision to close the University occur during the work/school day, other means of communication may also be used. These include the Audix phone system, email and the campus digital signage.
If the emergency or event occurs during business hours, senior management will make a decision on the best time to close based on the emergency conditions, class schedules, exams and other scheduled University functions, which will be communicated via the channels as outlined above.
Questions around closing can be directed to 718-990-2000.
All members of the University Community are encouraged to enroll in the Emergency Notification Messaging System. This alert system will issue both text and voice messages when a significant emergency occurs on our campuses. These messages will communicate what emergency currently exists, the location of the emergency, and advise a course of action. There will be updates issued as the emergency situation evolves.
In order to be enrolled in the system members of the University Community must log into UIS. On your Personal Information Menu click on “Update your emergency information for Instant Messaging System. Enter the phone (cell or off-campus wired phone) number that you want to receive the emergency alert, starting with area code and leaving out the hyphen between the third and fourth numbers.
Public Safety is the central repository for items lost and found on all of our campuses. If you find a lost item, turn it in to a uniformed SJU Public Safety Officer or bring the item directly to our Command Center. If you have lost an item and want to check if it has been recovered, call Public Safety or email us at [email protected].
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