Report Suspicious Activity

UMB promotes a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff, volunteers, visitors, and affiliate employees and has a zero-tolerance philosophy for threats and acts of aggression or violence.

If you are a victim or witness of threatening, aggressive, or violent behavior, contact the UMB Police Department immediately at 410-706-6882. In an emergency, always call 911!

BETA

The Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment (BETA) team helps members of the UMB community identify and report threatening, aggressive, or violent behavior. The team consists of appointed, standing representatives from across UMB, including Student Affairs, UMB Police Department, Employee Assistance Program, Employee and Labor Relations, Student Counseling Center, Title IX, and University Counsel. 

Warning Signs

While there is no proven method to predict when someone might become violent, an individual can exhibit behaviors that might precede violence. The following are warning signs that warrant attention and might require intervention and/or reporting.

  • Making threats (direct or indirect) of suicide or hurting one’s self.
  • Making implied threats of violence to others.
  • Fascination with or asserting ownership of firearms, bombs, or other weapons.
  • Preoccupation with incidents of publicized violence.
  • Intimidating others.
  • Crossing professional and personal boundaries.
  • Sudden or erratic agitation with others and/or blaming others when things go wrong.
  • Recent and marked decline in academic or job performance.
  • Notable changes in personality, mood, or behavior.
  • Giving away personal possessions.
  • Notable decline in personal hygiene and appearance.
  • Abusing alcohol or other drugs.
  • Social isolation or alienation.

When attempting to identify warning signs, it is important to consider other factors such as tone of voice and level of familiarity with the person as well as situational contexts. Considering the context in which warning signs occur may help show the level of risk and, in some cases, reveal that more proactive efforts are needed to prevent potential violence.

Read more FAQs about threatening, aggressive, or violent behavior.