Associate Vice President of Public Safety Cliff Everton ’96 sent the following message to the campus community on Aug. 28, 2026. – Ed.
Dear William & Mary community,
Now that the academic year has begun and we have welcomed new students to campus, I wanted to provide you with an update on the work being done by the Division of Public Safety to keep our community safe and secure.
Earlier this week we updated the Public Safety website with the latest information on the tools employed and updates to the Frequently Asked Questions section. We remain committed to transparency and understand the importance of trust and connection in pursuit of the university’s mission.
Additionally, to enhance awareness across the community, we have added a Crime Alerts & Safety Advisories section to the website. This resource, along with periodic Timely Warning emails, will inform the campus community of reportable incidents and relevant crime trends that may enable the members of our Tribe to better protect themselves. Any emergency notifications will still occur through TribeAlert.
The William & Mary Police Department is offering several sessions this semester for Active Shooter & Casualty Care training on campus. Sessions begin on Sept. 2 and will run through October. As part of our ongoing effort to improve preparedness across campus, we will offer this training several times each semester and have additional sessions in the summer. We have trained hundreds of students, staff and faculty since last academic year.
Construction of the Emergency Operations & Watch Center (EOWC) is about to commence. The EOWC will act as the “nerve center” of campus for Public Safety, supporting daily operations, situational awareness, special events and critical incidents. We expect completion sometime in the spring.
A new campus policy for e-scooters, e-bikes and other personal mobility devices is expected soon. While final details are still being reviewed, everyone should be aware of several anticipated requirements:
- No charging on campus and no storing e-scooters/e-bikes inside residence halls or other campus buildings.
- Register your e-scooter or e-bike with Parking & Transportation Services.
- Only certified devices that meet university safety standards will be allowed.
- Devices exceeding 20 mph will not be permitted on campus.
- Park only at designated bike racks.
- Ride responsibly and always yield to pedestrians.
As a reminder, in a community as close-knit as ours, public safety is a shared responsibility. Always remember, if you see something, please say something. The Class of 2030 has already taken this to heart and recently shattered the record for Rave Guardian sign-ups.
As always, we affirm the university’s core values, our strong sense of community and William & Mary’s mission as a preeminent, public research university.
Thank you,
Cliff Everton ’96
Associate Vice President