Reed College
Reed College

Guidebook

Community safety office

28 West (on SE 28th between Woodstock and Steele; 5436 SE 28th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202)
24 hours a day, seven days a week

Switchboard: extension "0" (503-771-1112)
Emergencies: extension 6666 (503-788-6666)

To report a theft: extension 1112 (503-771-1112) or extension "0"
Email: community-safety@reed.edu

The office of community safety helps ensure the safety of the Reed community of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors through collaboration and a commitment to excellence.  Community safety collaborates with residence life, health & counseling services, student activities & organizations, and others in promoting a safe campus and in the spirit of the honor principle.  External partners include the Portland Police Bureau, Portland Fire & Rescue, Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management, and other institutions of higher education in our region.  Community safety also investigates all reports of sexual assault involving Reed students, in consultation with Reed’s Title IX Coordinator.

Services and programs

Reed College community safety operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Community safety officers (CSOs) patrol campus by foot, bicycle, Segway, and vehicle around the clock and are trained to assist with CPR, first aid, fire safety, and investigation of criminal incidents. They also provide safety escorts by request and offer information to help keep everyone at Reed safe and sound. CSOs also do routine lockups and unlocks of campus buildings, respond to calls, and operate Reed’s phone switchboard.

 A CSO’s first concern is safety. CSOs are available at any hour to unlock residence halls, to escort community members after dark, to help a friend who is in trouble, or to report suspicious or dangerous activities. CSOs respond to fire alarms, coordinate emergency personnel when necessary, and can respond to help with first aid.

While Reed is located in a safe, residential neighborhood, theft, vandalism, and other crimes occur from time to time. CSOs will help with these situations, investigate, and take incident reports. They also provide crime prevention materials, issue community information bulletins, and engage with Reed policy violations when necessary.

Community safety offers a registration program for motor vehicles and bicycles at its office in the 28 West building. Officers can help with car lockouts and jump starts, as well as providing helpful equipment like bicycle pumps and engravers. Community safety also maintains Reed’s lost and found. Call or stop by any time!

Criminal incident reporting and investigation, including sexual assault

Any Reed community member who believes that they have been the victim of a crime is encouraged to contact community safety.  In some cases, community safety staff will be able to assist directly.  Or, when circumstances require the assistance of police or other external agencies, community safety will assist with contact and reporting.

Instances of sexual assault may be reported to community safety, or directly to Reed’s Title IX Coordinator.  For detailed information on sexual assault prevention and response, see Reed’s sexual assault page.

Theft

Theft is the most common crime on any campus. In order to minimize loss, students are encouraged to observe the following precautions:

  • Mark valuable items, such as bicycles, computers, etc. with an engraver, available from community safety.
  • Mark books with names and box numbers.
  • Lock residence hall rooms, apartments, and windows.
  • Report any issues with bicycles to Community Safety immediately; e-mailed photos of observed damage, broken locks, etc. are welcome.
  • Lock your care and don’t leave possessions where they are visible.
  • Don’t leave possessions unattended anywhere, even for a few minutes.
  • Lock bikes and helmets with a high-security u-lock attached to an immovable object in an open, highly frequented area.
  • Report theft to community safety as soon as possible (extension 7111).

How students can help maintain a safe campus

  • Keep residences locked and don’t prop open doors to any building
  • Report unusual or suspicious activity immediately to community safety
  • After dark, travel with a friend or call community safety for a ride

Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD)

The legal drinking age in Oregon is 21. All alcohol is regulated by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). In accordance with federal guidelines, Reed College supports local, state, and federal law regarding alcohol and controlled substances. The college also provides education and assistance for those who need it. Drinking underage or the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances violates Reed’s AOD policy.  Community Safety Officers (CSOs) who become aware of violations of the AOD policy are required to engage the violations and take appropriate action. The Reed College Guidebook’s section on Alcohol and Other Drugs has links to Reed’s AOD policy and related information.

Reed College security report and crime statistics by year

Reed's Annual Security Report (ASR) includes selected statistics for the previous three years for crimes and other activities covered by the Clery Act.  You may view a copy of the most recent ASR.

Crime statistics in this report from off-campus venues and adjacent streets were compiled in collaboration with the Portland police bureau. These statistics are substantiated by the community safety office in collaboration with the dean of students and the Portland police bureau. Double counting of these crimes is avoided by an oversight process conducted by the office of community safety.

If you have any questions about the prevention of crime on campus, please call "0" or 503-771-1112, extension "0" or stop by 28 West and ask to meet with a member of the community safety team.

(Page last modified: November 29, 2023)