With the help of technology, one can pay bills online, order food and now, feel safe when walking home alone.

The Rave Guardian application is now in its second year being associated with the Grand Valley State University Police Department (GVPD) and looks to increase safety by providing a virtual walking partner.

The application has two settings, passive and active. When using the Rave Guardian capabilities, students set a timer for when they should arrive at their destination. Once the timer reaches zero, if the user hasn’t turned off the app, it goes into active mode and sends an alert to GVPD.

The app also has a panic button that creates a direct connection to GVPD with GPS location, profile information and texting capabilities in case a student cannot communicate verbally. The texting portion of the app allows for anonymous crime tip reporting.

GVSU community members can create a safety profile through the program. Users set emergency contacts as “guardians” and if the safety timer is not deactivated before it expires, guardians are alerted. When creating a profile, users also add in information about residence, medical conditions and anything else that emergency personnel should be made aware of.

“Students can put roommates and family members in the contact list so that there is someone aware of where you are,” said Brandon DeHaan, GVSU police captain. “It gives a peace of mind.”

Many campuses have “blue light emergency phones” located in various locations. The Rave Guardian app is GVPD’s version of that, DeHaan said.

“With the click of a button, you can contact 911 and reach the help that you need,” DeHaan said. “This is the blue light phone that you can carry around in your pocket.”

Students who do not own a smartphone also have a similar service to take advantage of. GVPD will provide a walking escort for students and staff if they would like assistance. This can be used when walking to a parking lot or back to an apartment.

Ottawa Country central dispatch authority also has a Rave product that can be used in off-campus locations. Students in Ottawa Country are encouraged to use this smart 911 feature, DeHaan said.

With the Ottawa County application, any information that is associated with an account will be available to police dispatchers when the authorities are contacted.

“I would encourage members of our community to sign up for this product,” DeHaan said. “The guardian product is being used, but not to the extent we would like to see for an increase in safety awareness.”