Safety and Security

If you're concerned about your safety or the safety of others for any reason, contact our licensed staff 24/7. 

24/7 Phone: (731) 415-7599
Office Phone: (731) 352-4222
Email: busecurity@bethelu.edu

Main Office: 72 Jordan Avenue (house behind Heritage Hall) - Open 24/7
Satellite Office: Located in the Vera Low Center, 101 Wildcat Lane - Open regular business hours

To notify the Safety Committee made up of faculty and staff of any non-emergency issues of concern regarding the safety of the campus please email safetyconcerns@bethelu.edu. 

The mission of Bethel’s Department of Safety and Security is to maintain a safe and secure environment for all students, faculty, and staff belonging to the Bethel University community, to help establish and maintain an environment which will allow for the mental, physical, social and spiritual development of all students, and to help provide an atmosphere in which freedom of cultural expression and the continued growth of the whole student is possible within the Bethel Campus Community. 

The Department of Safety and Security is a state-licensed proprietary security service manned by state-licensed armed security officers. As a 24/7 security department on campus, we provide security for the campus in general as well as added security for special events, including all sanctioned athletic events. Through a Mutual Aid agreement, we work closely with local law enforcement agencies as it is necessary to provide a campus atmosphere compatible with the overall mission statement of Bethel University.

We believe in and work hard to comply with all state and federal laws pertaining to security and campus crime.

Chief of Security, Daniel Thomas
Assistant to the Chief of Security, Rhonda Ross
Sergeant Henry Carter
Sergeant Johnny Williams
Sergeant Jerry Boone
Officer David Trotter
Officer Mack Chambers
Officer Matt Foster
Officer Allen Walls
Officer Tavis Carr

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy (Clery Act) requires colleges and universities to:

• Publish an annual report on campus crime and fire safety statistics.
• Disclose crime statistics for the campus and public areas in and around the campus.
• Provide "timely warning" notices of crimes that have occurred and pose an ongoing threat.
• Implement emergency notification procedures.
• Publicly disclose a crime log of any crime within the campus security jurisdiction.
• Maintain a public fire log of any fire within an on-campus student housing facility.
• Disclose reporting procedures and policies for victims of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
• Provide educational awareness programs for the campus community.
  

To access the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, click here.

The 'College and University Security Information Act', specifically §49-7-2206, requires that the university publish an arrest log. Along with their charges, all crimes against persons or property reported to the department that resulted in an arrest will also include the name and address of the arrested individual(s).

The Campus Security Authority (CSA) is required to report any allegations of crimes that fall within the terms of the Clery Act outlined above.

The CSA is forbidden from the following:

• Investigating crimes reported.
• Reporting crimes overheard by students talking amongst themselves.
• Reporting crimes a student mentions during an in-class discussion.
• Reporting crimes a victim mentions during a speech.
• Reporting crimes the CSA learns through an indirect manner.

The CSA includes the following groups:

• Campus Security, all those employed by the Security Department.
• Any individual responsible for campus security such as Resident Directors, Resident Assistants, and Hall Monitors.
• Any individual with significant responsibility for student/campus activities such as the Dean of Student Development, Academic Dean, Housing Director, Coaches, Assistant Coaches, GA's, Athletic Director, Title IX Coordinator, Greek Life Coordinator, Student Activity Director, Faculty Advisors, and Satellite Campus Coordinator.
• A Professional Counselor.
• The University Chaplain.

The CSA does NOT include the following groups:

• A faculty member who has no responsibility for student/campus activities beyond the classroom.
• Clerical support.
• Cafeteria staff.

In The Log, Bethel University's Student Handbook, students can find further information on the following security topics as well as other student residence references.

• Drug & Alcohol Prevention
• Self-Harm Protocol
• Service Animal Policy
• Support Animal Policy
• Bullying & Harassment Policy
• Sexual Misconduct Policy

Employees may reference the Employee Handbook for further applicable information.