By Madison Weber ’23, Staff Writer and Social Media Editor

Following a spike in violent crime in Rochester and a declaration of a state of emergency by Mayor Lovely Warren, St. John Fisher College Department of Safety and Security sent out an email on Friday with personal safety reminders and tips to stay safe.

The email included safety tips and reminders for both on and off campus:

Always be alert and aware of your surroundings and of activity around you. 

Walk with others, especially at night.

• Remember, if you are on campus, you can call Safety & Security 24 hours per day for an escort.
• Walk in well lit, well-traveled areas, and walk in the middle of sidewalks away from trees and shrubs. 
• If you think you are being followed, reverse direction, cross the street, or go to a public area or business.
• If you are approached for directions, keep a safe distance and never enter a vehicle.
• If you see suspicious activity on-campus, alert Safety & Security. 
• If you are off-campus and see suspicious activity, dial 911.
• Trust your feelings and instincts.

According to the Rochester Police Department Open Data Portal, the city has seen a total of 75 homicides this year, that’s inn comparison to 51 in all of 2020 and 32 in all of 2019.

The Rochester Police Department encourages anyone who sees anything suspicious to call 911.