Black Bear Safe
The University of Maine Police Department is pleased to announce the launch of Black Bear Safe!
Black Bear Safe is a free application for students and other members of the campus community to use. It provides quick and easy access to on-campus safety resources.
Users can:
- Quickly dial 9-1-1 or call local police departments
- Sign up for and receive Emergency Notifications
- Activate a “Mobile BlueLight” to send their location and a call to UMaine PD dispatchers
- Submit crime tips via the in-app form, over the phone, via chat with UMaine PD dispatchers, or anonymously using Campus Eyes
- Use Friend Walk or Virtual Walkhome to send their location and destination to a friend or UMaine PD dispatcher respectively to track their progress on a map
- Access support resources for Title IX, Health Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling
- View campus Emergency Plans including appropriate contact phone numbers
- Access other UMaine applications such as Navigate
Black Bear Safe is available now on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Black Bear Safe is managed by the University of Maine Police Department. If you have a question that is not addressed below, please call us at 207.581.4040
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Black Bear Safe for?
A: Black Bear Safe is for UMaine Students, Staff, Faculty, and any other members of the University of Maine community
Q: Is Black Bear Safe available for any other University of Maine System campuses?
A: Black Bear Safe is only being introduced in Orono at this time.
Q: Can I request a feature or make a suggestion?
A: Email us at um.policedepartment@maine.edu with the subject “BBS Suggestion”
Q: What area do Black Bear Safe services cover?
A: Black Bear Safe services (including Mobile BlueLight and Virtual Walkhome) are only intended for use on campus property in Orono. This includes the trail system north of campus, College Avenue from Park Street to University Farm Road, and Witter Farm. For Virtual Walkhomes, trips to or from campus are also accepted.
The peer-to-peer Friend Walk feature can be used anywhere. Please note that local emergency services should be contacted in place of UMaine PD, as appropriate.
Q: When are Black Bear Safe services available?
A: Just like UMaine PD, Black Bear Safe services are available 24/7/365.
Q: What do I do if a dispatcher does not respond to my Virtual Walkhome or Chat request?
A: Some limited circumstances may prevent a dispatcher from responding to your request. If a dispatcher does not respond within 3 minutes, you will be notified and can either try again or call 207.581.4040. If this is an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
Q: Is Black Bear Safe intended to replace the Emergency 9-1-1 system?
A: No. Black Bear Safe is a supplemental program intended to promote campus safety. Part of this includes the ability to call emergency services.
Q: How does Mobile BlueLight differ from dialing 9-1-1?
A: 9-1-1 calls placed from the University’s VOIP phone system come straight to UMaine PD dispatchers. However, when 9-1-1 is dialed from a cell phone on campus, the call is routed to regional emergency dispatchers instead. The Mobile BlueLight tile dials UMaine PD dispatchers directly at 207.581.4040 and transmits your real-time location which can improve response times.
Q: Am I being tracked?
A: The user’s location is only transmitted when the Mobile BlueLight, Friend Walk, and Virtual Walkhome features are used. The user’s name and phone number is required for Chat, In-App Crime Tip, and Virtual Walkhome functions to provide the UMaine PD dispatcher with a point of contact for dispatching an officer or other emergency services.
Q: How do I enroll in Emergency Notifications?
A: Students, faculty, and staff are automatically subscribed to UMaine emergency alerts. For more information or to opt-out, please visit umaine.edu/emergency.
Other users can sign up within Black Bear Safe by tapping the More tile, then tap Emergency Notifications and tap “Sign up for Text Alerts” near the bottom of the page or by visiting umaine.edu/emergency.
Q: Do I have to use Black Bear Safe?
A: No. 9-1-1 and 207.581.4040 are both available 24/7/365 with or without Black Bear Safe. The application simply provides extra features including location services, chat, and reporting options. We hope you will install Black Bear Safe as a precaution, even if you never need to use it.