While Trident Technical College is committed to providing a safe and secure educational environment,
you are responsible for your own safety and security.

Public Safety

Sworn Personnel:

TTC Department of Public Safety employs sworn officers who are armed state constables commissioned by the Governor and regulated through the S.C. Law Enforcement Division. Public Safety officers receive their training and certifcation as police officers through the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy.  They share jurisdiction with city, county, and state police departments for the campuses they protect. To supplement Public Safety services, local police officers are employed under temporary contracts as necessary. Public Safety officers routinely work and train with local police and public safety agencies.

Non-sworn Personnel:

TTC Department of Public Safety also employs civilian personnel: an Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager (EHS), State Security officers, and Communications Specialists.  Civilian personnel receive training within their specific disciplines, however they do not hold commissioned powers of arrest. 

Reporting Crimes
Public Safety personnel respond to and investigate all reported crimes, emergencies, and environmental/safety incidents that occur on campus or otherwise affect the campus population. Report crimes and other emergencies on campus to Public Safety immediately. The emergency number is 843.574.6911 (6911 on campus) and this number is posted throughout the College on telephones and in the College and Trident-area telephone directories. Emergency telephones are available in buildings and parking lots.  If TTC telephone lines are out of service, please call Public Safety at 843.572.1642.  If Public Safety cannot be reached, report crimes on campus to local police who will relay the information by radio to Public Safety.  Also, report crimes related to College activities occurring off campus to local police and Public Safety immediately.  Reports made to Public Safety may be used for providing timely warning information to the campus community and for preparing the annual disclosure of campus crime statistics.

Reporting Hazards
Public Safety personnel also regularly survey campuses and sites for fire, safety, and security hazards. Report any hazards to Public Safety for referral to Facilities Management and/or the Public Safety's Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager as applicable.

Emergency Alerts
Upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation occuring on campus and involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of the campus community, Trident Technical College officials will activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS) unless issuing a notification will compromise efforts to contain the emergency.  Public Safety will conduct tests of EAS Campus and EAS Mobile/Email at least once annually.

The EAS includes the following notification components:

1. EAS Mobile: Text and/or voice messages sent to cell/home phones, PDAs, etc. (Students/employees must subscribe through the CampusCruiser CruiserAlert system to receive messages.)
2. EAS E-mail: E-mail alerts sent to CampusCruiser and personal e-mail accounts. (Students/employees must subscribe through the CampusCruiser CruiserAlert system to have e-mails sent to personal e-mail accounts.)
3. EAS Campus: Audible and/or text alerts sent to campus telephones located in classrooms, hallways and offices.
4. EAS Web: Alerts posted on TTC’s Web site (http://www.tridenttech.edu/) and on TTC’s CampusCruiser page.
5. EAS InfoLine: Recorded message alerts accessed by calling 843.574.6262, ext. 9091. A toll-free InfoLine, 877.869.7736, is activated when conditions warrant.
6. EAS Media: Alerts sent to local media outlets (radio, television, newspaper).
   A new component of this system is CruiserAlert, which will be used to send text, voice and e-mail messages to subscribers in the event of a campus emergency.

College Facilities

• Normal Operating Hours
  Buildings and facilities on the Main, Berkeley, and Palmer campuses are opened daily by Public Safety officers according to the TTC Calendar or as necessary for scheduled events. The St. Paul's Parish site is opened and secured daily by faculty or staff assigned to that site during hours of the site's operation or as necessary for scheduled events.  Faculty and staff at the St. Paul's Parish site must notify Public Safety upon opening and closing the site.  The Dorchester County Career and Technology Center (DCCTC) is opened by TTC faculty or staff assigned to that site, or by Public Safety during TTC's scheduled hours of operation at that site.
  
• Holiday Operating Hours   
  Except where authorized, buildings and facilities on campuses and sites will not be opened for faculty, staff, or students when the College is officially closed for holidays. During optional holidays, when the college is closed to the public, faculty and staff may work in accordance to the "Normal Operating Hours" procedures.
   
• After Hours
  Faculty, staff, and students are not permitted on the Palmer or Berkeley campuses if Public Safety is not on duty at those campuses.  Employees planning to work at any campus or site outside of normal operating hours, overnight, or during holiday closures, must obtain prior approval from their respective vice president, and approval must be sent to Public Safety in writing. 

• College Closed During Emergencies
  When the college (or a campus/site) is closed due to an emergency situation, students and visitors will not be allowed access.  Non-emergency employees shall not come to the college (or the affected campus/site) unless specifically directed to do so by their supervisor.  Local government agencies or contractors, which have the necessary trained personnel and emergency equipment needed to assist in emergency response, will be allowed access. 

College policies prohibit unapproved solicitation or loitering on campus. Disruptions of the educational environment, and trespass on College facilities or grounds are prohibited.  Violators may be escorted from campus, issued notice of trespass, or subject to arrest as warranted.

Security Awareness and Crime Prevention Programs
TTC presents various crime prevention programs at each campus. Faculty, staff, and students receive crime prevention information through meetings, electronic mail, publications, and Public Safety's webpage (www.tridenttech.edu/publicsafety). Crime Alert bulletins (timely warnings) are sent to faculty, staff, and students by the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety via electronic mail.  Crime Alert bulletins are also posted on Public Safety's webpage. College inventory and insurance policies require reporting of any stolen, lost or damaged TTC property as well as any accidents or injuries occurring on campus. Individuals who report crime information that leads to an arrest may be eligible to receive a monetary reward through the Crime Stoppers program.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse
TTC strives to provide a drug- and alcohol-free educational environment. Counseling and Career Development Services, Public Safety, the Employee Assistance Program and local police sponsor drug and alcohol awareness programs for faculty, staff and students. Public Safety enforces College policies, and Federal and State laws regarding alcohol and illegal drugs on campus. It is unlawful to possess alcoholic beverages (with the exception of those events permitted under TTC Alcohol Procedure, 7-4-2) or illicit drugs on College property. See the Catalog/Student Handbook or Employee Handbook for TTC's complete drug and alcohol abuse policy. 

Sexual Assault (Forcible and Nonforcible Sex Offenses)
Sexual assault, sexual battery and related sexual offenses are not only criminal violations, but are also conduct prohibited by the College.  Sexual battery/assault is defined as any actual or attempted nonconsensual or forcible sexual act:  sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse or any intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person's body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of another person's body.  The inability to provide consent may be determined by the person's age, mental or physical incapacity, intoxication (drugs and/or alcohol) or other valid reasons.

Preventing Sexual Assaults on Campus
To increase awareness and educate students, faculty, and staff on ways to prevent sexual crimes on campus, the College offers sexual assault prevention programs on campus or through the assistance of outside agencies such as People Against Rape.  Anyone can become a victim of sexual assault especially on college campuses where acquaintance rape is prevalent.

If You Are Sexually Assaulted

1. Go to a safe place.
2. Notify the police. Reporting the crime does not obligate you to file charges or testify in court. However, a report of the incident and any evidence collected may provide successful legal action if you decide to pursue criminal charges at a later date. The information you provide may also prevent someone else from becoming a victim, and it may help towards regaining your sense of personal control.
   • On Campus: Call Public Safety immediately at 843.574.6911 from an outside telephone; 6911 from a campus telephone; or by activating an emergency call box.
   • Off Campus: Call local police immediately by dialing "911", or their local number.
   • Provide the following information:
     • Your name.
     • Your exact location, and the location of the incident.
     • The phone number from where you are calling.
     • Description of injuries, if any.
     • Immediate details of the incident (where it occurred, how long ago)
       Information about the accused (name, if accused is present, physical description, clothing description, direction of flight, description of vehicle, etc.)
3. Preserve all physical evidence that may be present. Do not shower, bathe, douche, or urinate. Do not eat, drink, smoke, rinse your mouth, or brush your teeth. Do not change clothes if it can be avoided. If changing clothes is necessary, secure them inside a paper bag, not plastic. Do not disturb the crime scene(s).
4. Obtain medical assistance. Even if you choose not to prosecute or report the assault, you are strongly encouraged to go through the rape protocol exam for medical attention and for the purpose of preserving important physical evidence of the assault. The rape protocol exam should be done as soon as possible. Physical evidence can be obtained up to 72 hours after the assault; however, as time passes, the quality of the evidence diminishes.
   • On Campus: Call Public Safety immediately at 843.574.6911 from an outside telephone; 6911 from a campus telephone; or by activating an emergency call box.
   • Off Campus: Call local emergency medical service immediately by dialing "911", or their local number. You can also report in person to any local area hospital emergency room.
5. Contact a family member or friend to be with you.

Reporting to Public Safety

1. Public Safety will respond to your location on campus, ensure that you are safe, and provide you with emergency medical assistance.
2. Public Safety will ask you questions about the assault (location and time of the assault, a description of the accused, etc.). If you request to speak to a male or female officer, Public Safety will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request, to include contacting another law enforcement agency having concurrent jurisdiction. Local law enforcement may become involved depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. A family member, friend, or counselor may be with you during the interview.
3. Public Safety will protect the crime scene, contact local law enforcement as may become necessary, and will assist in the collection and preservation of evidence.
4. Public Safety will make contact with, and escort you to an appropriate medical facility, such as the Medical University of South Carolina.
5. Public Safety and TTC's Counseling Services will contact other assistance agencies (People Against Rape, Solicitor’s Office Victims/Witness Program, etc.), in your behalf. The Victims/Witness coordinator from the Solicitor’s Office will help you file any documents related to the S.C. Victim’s Compensation Fund.
6. Public Safety will treat you and your case with sensitivity, understanding, and professionalism regardless of your gender or the gender of the accused. Public Safety officers will not prejudge you, or blame you for what occurred.
7. Public Safety will NOT release your name to the public or the press.
8. Public Safety will continue to be available to you, answer your questions, and explain the system and processes involved (solicitor, courts, etc.).
9. Public Safety will professionally investigate your case, which may lead to the arrest and prosecution of the accused. You will be kept up-to-date on the progress of the investigation and/or prosecution.

How the College Can Help

1. The College’s Counseling office will offer emotional support, and refer you to community resources for victims of sexual assault. The College will also change your academic situation if changes are requested and reasonably available.
2. The vice president for Student Services will initiate disciplinary proceedings when a student is accused of a sexual assault on campus. Both the accuser and the accused are entitled to due process as outlined in the College’s Catalog/Student Handbook, and both will be notified of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding. Specific disciplinary sanctions are also outlined in the College’s Catalog/Student Handbook.

South Carolina Sex Offenders Registry
The South Carolina Sex Offenders Registry is available on the Internet via the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) website at http://www.sled.state.sc.us/.

 Public Safety
 

Off Campus	843.574.6911
Emergency backup line if TTC phone lines are not working	843.572.1642
On Campus	6911
Non-emergency	6053

	City of N. Charleston Police	Berkeley County Sheriff	City of Charleston Police	Charleston County Sheriff
Police	911	911	911	911
Fire	911	911	911	911
EMS	911	911	911	911
Non-emergency	740.2800	577-9562	577-7074	202.1700

* When calling from any campus you must first dial 9 to get an outside line.
Calls to "911" from campus phones will automatically notify Public Safety for quicker response.

 NOTE: Long distance calls require the 843 area code to be dialed before dialing numbers other than 911.