Reporting Safety Concerns, Hate Crimes, & Hate Incidents

If you observe a crime or suspicious incident, or if you notice a security problem, notify the Department of Campus Safety immediately by calling (562) 777-4000 (or 5111 from an on- campus phone). You can also call this number in the event of a police, fire or medical emergency. For non-emergency officer assistance, call the Campus Safety Communications Center at (562) 903-6000 (dial 0 from an on- campus phone). The Communication Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For business calls, please contact the Campus Safety Administration Office at (562) 903-4877 (dial 4877 from an on- campus phone).

Victims or witnesses may report crimes on a voluntary, confidential, or anonymous basis to a recognized campus security authority to the extent allowed by Biola University’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Department of Campus Safety encourages pastoral and professional counselors to refer persons they are counseling to report crimes to Campus Safety on a voluntary, confidential, or anonymous basis.

Any on-campus crime witnessed by a University student or employee must be reported to the Department of Campus Safety as soon as possible. The Department of Campus Safety is responsible for reporting and follow-up investigation when an incident is reported. All University students, employees, and visitors should exercise responsibility for their own safety while on campus.

Crimes may also be reported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Local Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department contact numbers for Biola University’s main campus are as follows:

• Emergency – 911
• Non-Emergency – (562) 902-2960

Reports may also be made anonymously using the RAVE Guardian app.

Hate Incident

A hate incident is an act of hostility or violence against an individual or group based upon their real or perceived race, nationality, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or protected social group. If incidents are a criminal act or attempted criminal act, including but not limited to harassment, assault, and property damage, it may be considered a hate crime.

Bias Incident

A bias incident includes conduct or behavior (verbal, nonverbal, or written) that is threatening, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, or hostile and is based on a person’s identity group affiliation, including, but not limited to race, age, disability, status, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or religion. A bias incident can occur whether the behavior is intentional or unintentional and may or may not be an illegal act.

The Department operates a communications center that includes services such as University operator (562-903-6000 or 0 from campus phones), Campus Safety dispatch, alarm monitoring and other communications capabilities.

When circumstances warrant, Crime Alert Bulletins are released by Department of Campus Safety to warn the University community of special crime-related conditions.

Campus Safety maintains a Crime Log of all reports of crimes and fire safety issues made to Campus Safety. The Daily Crime & Fire Safety Log may be viewed here.