Additional information on April 25 cAlert

APRIL 26, 2023 

From: Eric Heath, Associate Vice President for Safety and Security
Date: April 26, 2023

On the night of April 25, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) received an anonymous report of an armed individual at a University library, which triggered an immediate response from officers from CPD and the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD). Their searches of buildings on campus determined that the report was false.

It appears this call was the latest of many “swatting” incidents that have affected schools and universities across the country. “Swatting” is when an individual makes a false report of an emergency, usually anonymously, in the hope of initiating a response from law enforcement. Making a false report to law enforcement is a serious crime.

In recent weeks there has been a noticeable uptick in such false reports in Illinois and across the country.

For the safety of our community, UCPD and the University take threats seriously and we respond accordingly, until we can determine that a threat does not exist.

In the case of the April 25 incident, UCPD and CPD immediately searched library facilities while the University issued a cAlert directing individuals to avoid the area. UCPD additionally checked other University buildings out of an abundance of caution and found no sign of a threat. Once police confirmed there was no threat, the University issued an all-clear.

When police are investigating such a threat or searching facilities, we ask everyone to follow police directions and be prepared to respond to instructions via the cAlert system. We have provided a brief summary of cAlert instructions that the University is prepared to send if the situation warrants. We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with these scenarios.

Reports of a threat to our community can be distressing, even if they turn out to be false. As a reminder, support for students is available through UChicago Student Wellness; the Staff and Faculty Assistance Program (SFAP) offers support for University personnel.

We are grateful for the timely response of safety personnel and the cooperation of our community during this incident.