Halloween might be filled with costumes and frights, but it does not have to be a dangerous day. Whether you are hanging out with friends or attending Chaos, it is important to stay safe this Halloween.
There are a lot of factors playing into safety this Halloween, all of which need to be considered. Wes LiCalzi, chief of the Utah Tech University police department, said safety tips stay the same throughout Halloween, with situational awareness being important.
“Halloween does add that element of like masks, fake weapons or people acting more foolish than normal, so you just have to be aware of that stuff,” LiCalzi said.
Even though Halloween is filled with the fun of costumes, it does not mean you won’t be held accountable for your actions. LiCalzi said it is a strange time for the officers since people do things they normally wouldn’t do, just because they have a mask on.
“Halloween is not an excuse,” LiCalzi said. “So if people are doing things that are criminal or suspicious or weird, then it would be good to report it to the police so we can go check it out.”
Recently, UTPD released a new system to report crimes or suspicious activities through the myUT app under the services tab. On Halloween or not, students can report any crimes through a quick form that instantly sends out a message to all on-duty officers. LiCalzi said the form allows students unsure or intimidated to call dispatch to report a crime and still receive relatively instant feedback.
On the night of Halloween, UTPD will also be attending Chaos to ensure safety while students dance the night away. Utah Tech Student Association member and event organizer Breonna Bingham, a senior recreation and sports management major from Salina, said UTSA works alongside the UTPD and the Risk & Safety Department on campus for all events, including Chaos.
“We want to ensure students have a great time at our events, and that means prepping in advance to be conscious of student safety,” Bingham said. “By doing the small things like making sure equipment used is in great condition, tripping hazards are avoided, event rules are posted in advance, etc., we work to tackle issues in advance.”
Many precautions are also in place for the event to continue to make students feel safe. Bingham said this includes not allowing any masks into the venue, no costume props, clear bag requirements and security checks.
“Due to the nature of Chaos, we are diligent about making sure costumes are both fun and safe for all those in attendance,” Bingham said.
Attending the event will be UTPD officers and Emergency Medical Services, as well as Southern Utah University campus police to work alongside in mutual aid. UTPD corporal, Matthew Cochran, will be one of the officers attending Chaos to help ensure safety throughout the night.
“We try to watch the [students] as they’re coming in and keep an eye when we’re in the dances,” Cochran said. “We always stay separated and in corners and in those types of places where we can watch as many [students] as possible.”
With these precautions in place, participants attending the event can rest assured that safety is the top priority. While you’re out enjoying Halloween, keep these tips and tricks in the back of your mind.
In case of an emergency this Halloween, call 911 or non-emergency dispatch.
