A message about community safety

Interim President Marcia White sent the following message to the Saint Rose community today:

Dear Saint Rose community,

Earlier today, you received a Security Advisory from our director of security regarding gunshots being fired around 2 a.m. on Partridge Street near Madison Avenue. No one was injured and the suspects had fled the area before police arrived.

I spoke to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan early this morning to discuss this most recent incident and express my concern. We both expressed our commitment to continue working closely together so that the City of Albany is a safe and inclusive place for all to learn, live, and grow. She will continue to keep me updated on the investigation. The College’s Department of Safety and Security is working closely with the Albany Police Department and both departments are providing extra patrols to the area.

The College’s Department of Safety and Security is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it offers a Security Escort Service to members of our community who would like a security officer to walk with them on campus or to their cars. Students can also participate in the Shuttle You Home program, which provides students with a safe ride home through Security. These services are available by calling Security at 518.454.5187. The College will roll out an enhanced version of the RAVE Alert system in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned for additional information about that service.

Tragically, in cities across the United States, including Albany, there has been an increase in gun violence this summer. Mayor Sheehan declared a state of emergency over the weekend, which empowered the City of Albany Police to shut down a business that they believed to be connected to an incident early Friday morning. You can read more about this declaration in the statement from the mayor’s office.

As shared in the Security Advisory, please remember that anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to call the Albany Police Department at 518.462.8039. Please also call Saint Rose Security immediately if you have knowledge of suspicious persons or activities at 518.454.5187. Save this number in your cell phone so it is quickly accessible.

The safety of our community is of paramount importance to us, and we will continue to work in partnership with the City of Albany to maintain a safe community.

Sincerely,

Marcia