LiveSafe is a personal safety mobile app that University of Kentucky is providing to all students, faculty, and staff to download for free. The app provides a quick, convenient, and discreet way to communicate directly with University of Kentucky Police Department about potential risks and threats before they escalate, thereby enhancing your overall safety.
LiveSafe
Share Information
App users can submit tips for suspicious activity, harassment, or even a malfunctioning traffic signal, all with two-way text communications with the police. You can even submit pictures or videos with your tip, straight from you mobile phone. Tips can be submitted anonymously if you choose.
Navigate Campus
Access a building list and receive turn-by-turn walking or driving directions to any building on the Lexington campus.
Summon Emergency Help
Call 911, call -859-257-UKPD or message campus police in an emergency from within the app. Safety officials can leverage location-data in an emergency, allowing faster response times!
Access Emergency Information and Resources
Fast access to campus emergency procedures as well as on and off campus resources right in the app.
Have your friend's back with SafeWalk
Participate in a virtual escort and monitor your friend's location in real-time on a map. Users can chat with one another or call 911, if needed, from within the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LiveSafe?
LiveSafe is a free mobile app made available by the University of Kentucky Student Government Association and the University Police Department. Designed to prevent crime and enable better incident response, the LiveSafe technology includes an app for smartphone users that is connected to a cloud-based dashboard. This dashboard is monitored by PD officials within the UKPD dispatch center.
What are the main features of LiveSafe?
The core features include quick tip submittal via text with picture and video attachments (including the option to stay anonymous), live chat with safety officials, fast access to emergency phone numbers that initiate location tracking when called, a comprehensive safety map that pinpoints incidents on or near campus, a peer-to-peer tool called SafeWalk that allows friends to watch out for each other through location monitoring and group chat, and a quick-access feature to request a safe ride. Additionally, app users can receive important broadcast notifications specific to their campus.
Why might someone use this app in an emergency?
So long as users have the capacity to make voice calls, we encourage anyone in an emergency to always call 9-1-1. If, however, a user is unable to make a direct call due to situational or technical issues, or if they must be discreet, then LiveSafe reporting becomes advantageous. Additionally, when the Emergency button is used to dial 9-1-1, dial campus police, or message campus police, location services are enabled to help emergency personnel find your location.
If I download LiveSafe, can law enforcement see my location whenever they want?
No. Your location is only sent to the University of Kentucky Police Department when you submit a tip (anonymous or not) or use one of the features within the Emergency button (Call 911, Call Campus Police, or Message Campus Police). When you submit a tip, your current location is only submitted once and is attached to that tip – tracking is not enabled. However, when you use the Emergency Options button, your location is tracked until you stop location tracking within the Emergency button screen.
Why do I need to fill out a a user profile after downloading LiveSafe?
Filling out the user profile will help law enforcement contact you if additional information is needed after you submit a tip. If you use the Emergency Options button, they will have immediate access to your name and contact information. This is imperative in emergency situations if you lose connection with law enforcement or if your identity is needed because you are in distress.
Is the anonymous feature really anonymous if I have filled out my user profile or if I use the chat feature?
Yes, it is. If you check the “Send Anonymously” box when submitting a tip, your user information will show up as “Anonymous” in all of the fields. Even if the UKPD uses the Live Chat feature to obtain additional information, you will still appear as anonymous.
What happens when I click "Call 911" from the Emergency button?
When you click on the “Call 911” button from the Emergency screen, a confirmation bubble will appear with “call” or “cancel” options. This will help ensure that users do not accidentally call 911 if it is not an emergency.
When I first download LiveSafe, why is the app asking to access my contacts?
The app will ask to access your contacts so you can easily add friends and family members to your LiveSafe contact list. This list is used for the SafeWalk feature.
What if a tip I submit to the UKPD turns out to be a mistake?
Users will not be penalized for making claims that turn out to be untrue. So long as reports aren’t purposefully and falsely claimed, people are encouraged to share information.