LiveSafe app improving campus safety at Kansas State

K-State student Bruna Abdo doesn't always feel safe in Manhattan.

"Late nights walking home from Aggieville, the streets here are pretty dark where I live," Abdo said.

Kansas State University police say protecting students is a main priority. They recently signed on with the LiveSafe app to give them another tool to accomplish that goal.

The LiveSafe App allows faculty and students to have two-way communication with campus security officials at all times.

"With 'Report Tips,' you can click on (a) blue icon...and you can report anything from accidents to theft. You can take a picture of the incident, you can take a video of the incident, or audio of the incident," explained Kansas State Police Officer Randy Myles.

Abdo has already taken advantage of the reporting feature.

"I had like someone knocking on my door at like 4 in the morning, and you can do anonymous so I just sent a message, 'There's someone knocking on the door,'" she said. "The cops called me like, 'Hey, there's no one there anymore. You're good.'"

In addition, the app's safety map allows users a look at the 51 Emergency Blue Light Phones across campus, as well as safety locations and the location of recent LiveSafe reports.

The app also includes a Safewalk feature to allow GPS tracking with friends to make sure you get home safely, and the Emergency Options icon allows users to message or call 911 and Campus Police in more serious incidents.

"It's a good source for community policing and outreach for us to say "Hey this is what we're trying to do. We're trying to help you stay safe not only here but elsewhere," KSU Police Lt. Bradli Millington said.

K-State is one of 120 colleges using the app. Fort Hays State University, Cowley Community College, and Neosho County Community College are also LiveSafe campuses.

To download the app, search LiveSafe in the App Store.