Dear ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Community,
Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and calm during this morning’s shelter-in-place advisory related to a domestic incident involving the discharge of a weapon near our Reading Hill campus.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted, and in-person classes resumed at 12:30 p.m. on the Reading campus. At 2 p.m. law enforcement removed the command center from Lot C and will continue their search and investigation for the person of interest well outside of the Kenhorst area. They advised that the campus could continue its transition to normal operations.
Please know that the Emergency Management Team will remain in contact with law enforcement and that Public Safety will maintain an increased presence through the evening and into tomorrow. There is no indication that anyone involved in the incident was affiliated with the University.
Any further guidance for the community will be shared through University email and Omnilert Emergency Alerts. Any further details on the incident will be shared by Reading Police Department via their communication channels and local media.
I’d like to share my gratitude for the swift response from local and state emergency services to resolve the potential threat to our campus community quickly. I’d also like to thank the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Emergency Management and Public Safety teams for their quick and appropriate response that followed our policies and procedures aimed at keeping the university community safe.
We recognize that incidents like this can be unsettling. Support is available for any member of the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ community through the Penn Medicine – ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Medical and Counseling Center. Please don’t hesitate to take advantage of these resources. If students need immediate emotional support, they can call the Medical and Counseling Center at 610-568-1467. Appointments are available this afternoon. Group support will be available tomorrow at 8 a.m. in the Medical and Counseling Center. In addition, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ will host cuddling events with animals tomorrow. Kangaroos will be available from 10am-12pm and baby goats will be available from 11am-1pm in the PEC.
Our top priority is—and will always be—the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. Today’s response is a reflection of the strength of our community and the professionalism of all involved.
At the bottom of this email, I am sharing information provided by the Emergency Management Team. As a final reminder, please be sure to register for ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Omnilert Emergency Alerts. Instructions for registration can be found here.
Thank you again for your understanding and vigilance.
Warmly,
Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
President
We encourage students and faculty to always be aware of their surroundings and, as necessary, consider the following safety tips:
- Let people know where you are, where you are going, and when you expect to arrive.
- Always try to walk with others.
- Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid the person or leave.
- If you are approached, take note of the person’s appearance, clothing, and anything unusual that will help you identify the suspect.
- Report any suspicious individuals to the Office of Public Safety.
- Call 9-1-1 to report crimes that occur away from campus.
- Do not confront or engage any suspicious people.
- Utilize the call boxes indicated by blue lights in the event of an emergency.
- Program Public Safety into your cell phone for emergencies: 610.796.8350.
- Call Public Safety for a safety escort around campus if you feel a need.
