Full Notification

The officers of the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) District Police Department have noted an increase of people on several of our campuses playing the popular new mobile device game Pokémon GO. The virtual scavenger hunt game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual Pokémon (animated pocket monster characters) who appear in the real world through the mobile phone by using the GPS and camera. The game has attracted some negative attention due to reports of accidents and other problems associated with it.

Our community’s safety is the SRJC District Police’s #1 priority and as the Pokémon craze hits our campus we wanted to take a few minutes to provide everyone with some safety tips. There have been reports by other law enforcement agencies throughout the world of accidents, injuries, and even robberies where suspects have set up fake “Pokéstops.” So as you battle, train, and capture your Pokémon, please remember you’re still in the real world!

SAFETY TIPS:
• Watch where you are going. Please don’t look down at your phone while crossing streets, getting off buses, or even while walking.
• Please obey all traffic laws.
• Do not jaywalk. Use one of the several crosswalks in the SRJC area and activate the yellow caution lights, traffic signals, or “Pedestrian Walk“ buttons at the crosswalks.
• Do not pursue your Pokémon out into the streets.
• Don’t assume drivers see you or will stop especially during nighttime when you are dressed in dark clothing.
• Watch out for trees, parking meters, and other things that are attached to the sidewalk; they hurt.
• Watch out for other pedestrians.
• Do not drive a car or ride your bike or skateboard while interacting with the game.
• Know your surroundings. Pay attention to where you are going and who is around you; a slow car driving alongside you as you walk might be a sign of a getaway car. If you get the sense you are being followed or setup for a robbery, head to a lighted area with people around, and call the police immediately.
• Do not go onto private property, dark alleys, or areas that you usually would not go if you weren’t playing the game.
• PARENTS, know where your kids are going when playing with the game and set limits on where they can go so they don’t keep going trying to get that Pikachu.
• PARENTS, tell your kids about stranger-danger because the game may bring strangers together in real life at fake “Pokéstops.”

CAMPUS INFORMATION:
• The SRJC is an open campus and we allow the public to use our facilities.
• There are areas on campus which are closed to the public. Please do not enter into areas where you should not be. These areas are clearly marked and/or locked.
• Please do not disturb educational classes or activities which are in progress.
• The SRJC campuses and facilities are open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Please do not come on to any campus or facility without prior permission during hours of closure.
• If you are contacted by the District Police please cooperate, know that the police officers are checking on your safety or responding to a call for service.

The SRJC District Police Department are here for you 24 / 7 / 365 and can be contacted at (707)527-1000.