The Department of Community Safety is excited to highlight a new chat feature in the PeraltaSafety app, designed to make it easier for students, faculty, and staff to connect with us quickly and discreetly. This app enhancement reflects our unwavering commitment to making safety accessible, responsive, and user-centered across the District.
The new chat feature allows users to communicate with a Community Safety Dispatcher in real-time. If someone is concerned about suspicious activity, needs an escort, or has a question about navigating campus safely, they can open the app and start a conversation—no phone call necessary. This feature can be especially helpful in situations where speaking aloud may not be safe or practical.
Trained Community Safety Dispatchers monitor messages sent through the chat, assess the need, and respond appropriately. The chat is not intended for emergencies—911 should always be called in those cases—but it offers a helpful alternative for lower-risk concerns or when someone is unsure whether a situation warrants emergency action.
Some potential use cases include reporting a suspicious person or vehicle, requesting a safety escort, or checking whether a building is open. We’ve designed the feature with user experience and efficiency in mind. Users will see the following message when initiating a chat: “Thank you for your patience as we try to connect you with a dispatcher. If no one becomes available in the next 3 minutes, this chat will close. If this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately.” The message ensures users know what to expect while helping our team manage multiple requests and maintain clear, active communication channels.
Please stay tuned for more exciting updates soon. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to download or update the app and explore the new chat tool—it’s another step toward a safer, more connected community.
Download the PeraltaSafety App from the Apple or Google Play Store: https://peralta.apparmor.com/clients/peralta.edu/
Peralta Department of Community Safety: https://www.peralta.edu/community-safety
