On Nov. 26, 2017, a man overdosing on meth pressed multiple University of Oregon’s “emergency call boxes” near LLC North. Help soon arrived and the man was transported to receive medical attention.
But for most, the call boxes’ bright multihued yellow posts, brick red button and bright blue light often go unnoticed when observing campus scenery.
The 80 call boxes, not including those in elevators, are scattered throughout campus and cost close to $14,400 a year to maintain. They saw far and few legitimate uses during 2017, according to data provided by the University of Oregon Police Department.
Oftentimes when officers arrived at the scene in response to receiving a call, no one was found to be in need of assistance. UOPD spokesperson Kelly McIver says that it’s difficult to understand the underlying cause of this trend.
“I’m not sure that there’s accuracy or value in describing the mystery activations as pranks, since we really don’t know,” McIver said.
Over the course of the year, emergency call boxes were activated 192 times; however officers responded to only nine incidents with individuals at the scene.
Here are the situations officers responded to that had individuals at the scene:
Nov. 26, 2017 at 12:43 a.m., Living Learning Center North, male subject experiencing methamphetamine overdose, pressing multiple ephones. Responded and medical transport
Oct. 11, 2017 at 12:07 a.m., North Side of Lewis Integrated Sciences, verbal dispute, ephone pushed by a party involved
Oct. 8, 2017 at 12:02 a.m., North Side of Lewis Integrated Sciences, medical assistance, 35 yo male request medics for a heart problem
Aug. 5, 2017 at 9:30 a.m., Student Rec Center Turf Field #2, medical assistance, referred caller to 9-1-1 because [UOPD] can’t transfer ephone calls
July 24, 2017: at 4:52 a.m., Carson Hall ephone 62, medical assistance, custodian was injured and walked to ephone to get help
June 16, 2017: at 2:24 a.m., area of 12/Kincaid, motor vehicle accident
April 16, 2017: at 1:26 a.m., Lot 53, person requests medical assistance
March 21, 2017: at 6:40 a.m., Cascade Hall NE Exterior, caller reported getting hit by a truck and a verbal dispute
Feb. 8, 2017: at 4:49 p.m., Millrace ephone, caller reporting a dispute with his girlfriend
McIver says that despite officers’ quick response time if they are close, the smaller, newer technology of cell phones is the primary factor behind the infrequent use of emergency phones.
“Response to a call box generally takes no more than a couple of minutes; less if an officer on patrol is close to the location,” McIver said. “Everyone has 911 at their fingertips. They don’t need to go to a call box and talk to a dispatcher. I think that the cell phone largely killed off the use of the call boxes.”
Despite their occasional use and high cost, UOPD Police Chief Matthew Carmichael says that there is no benefit in removing the call boxes.
“Some campuses across the country have chosen to remove emergency phones which I would caution is a serious mistake,” Carmichael said. “It has been my experience that emergency phones have played a vital role in getting emergency assistance to students who are in need of medical attention or to thwart potential crime. Balancing cost versus student safety, student safety wins.”
Editor’s note: The dispatch data was provided to The Emerald in an email from UOPD spokesperson Kelly McIver. It has been edited for clarity.
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