BBQ Grill Tips, Vacation Rental Safety and Other Timely FYIs

Public Safety & U – July 2025
A crossing guard stops traffic.

Drexel Public Safety (DPS) hopes everyone in the community is having a fun and safe summer! In this edition of Public Safety & U, you’ll find tips for summertime staples — grilling and traveling — as well as information on vehicle theft prevention, pedestrian safety and the importance of being kind to the dispatchers on the other end of your calls.

Plus: Join DPS at National Night Out on Aug. 5 along Lancaster Walk, and don’t miss Drexel University Police Department (DUPD) Officer Chuck Hendricks playing the drums with his cover band!

Crossing Guards Enhance Pedestrian Safety at 32nd and Market Streets

Drexel Public Safety recently began posting an officer at the intersection of 32nd and Market streets from Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. from 12:30 p.m., to provide safe crossing assistance for all pedestrians traversing the intersection during the busiest hours. If you see a crossing guard, feel free to say or wave hello!

Safety Tips for Summertime Fun

Safety Drills for BBQ Grills

Whether you’re a fan of grilled hot dogs, hamburgers or veggies, DPS wants you to stay safe with these outdoor grilling tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

  • Only use your grill outside.
  • Keep your grill at least three feet from siding, deck rails and eaves, and keep a three-foot safe zone around your grill. These parameters will keep kids and pets safe.
  • Open your gas grill before lighting.
  • Keep an eye on your grill, fire pit or patio torches. Don’t walk away from them when they are lit.
  • Clean your grill after each use to remove grease that can start a fire. Place the coals from your charcoal grill in a metal can with a lid once they have cooled.

Visit FEMA for more emergency preparedness information, including how to get assistance after a disaster, tools to recover, national preparedness, risk management and how to reduce risk in your home.

New Vacation Digs, Same Safety Measures

FEMA also offers safety tips for your vacation travel. If you rent vacation properties, be cautious and familiarize yourself with safety procedures just like you would at home.

  • Know the address of the property.
  • Be aware of all exits in case of an emergency.
  • There should be working smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the rental. Verify this information with the property owner before you book.
  • Check for working carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the rental.
  • Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from the rental among your whole group in case you need to evacuate.
  • Make everyone in the group aware of where to find a first-aid kit in the property.

Recognizing National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month

July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and vehicle theft continues to be a problem in the vicinity of Drexel’s University City campus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers these tips to help protect your vehicles and items left inside:

  • Take your vehicle key inside with you; do not leave it in/on your vehicle.
  • Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
  • Park in well-lit areas if possible.
  • Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.

Watch this brief related video; it could save you thousands of dollars. One vehicle is stolen about every 37 seconds nationwide — don’t become a statistic.

Supporting the Mental Health of Emergency Dispatchers

Emergency dispatchers are often the very first responders, answering calls during the most intense, frightening or traumatic moments of someone’s life. Behind every emergency call is a real person listening on the other end — someone who must remain calm, focused and empathetic no matter what they’re hearing. Whether it’s a serious medical emergency, a crisis on campus, or even a prank call, dispatchers absorb emotional weight with every ring of the phone. Over time, this can lead to emotional fatigue, burnout and even secondary trauma — especially when callers misuse the system or don’t understand its seriousness.

Drexel is a University community that values mental health, and it’s important to recognize the emotional toll this essential role takes. By being thoughtful about when and how we engage emergency services, we help protect the well-being of the people behind the calls. Awareness is the first step. The more we understand the reality of a dispatcher’s experience, the more we can advocate for their mental health and show our respect for the critical role they play. Real voices, real stress, real people answering your calls — let’s treat them with care and respect.

Officer Hendricks in action, playing the drums for his cover band, the Groove City Band; check them out at National Night Out on Aug. 5.]
Officer Hendricks in action, playing the drums for his cover band, the Groove City Band; check them out at National Night Out on Aug. 5.

Get to Know Us: Officer Chuck Hendricks

Drexel University Police Officer Chuck Hendricks has been at the University for a little over two and a half years. He started as a patrol officer but moved to the position of community campus resource officer in November 2024. He interacts with students and the surrounding community, helping them to resolve minor and major problems that arise in the area and educating students how to be more aware of their surroundings while they are on campus and in greater Philadelphia. Chuck says one of his favorite parts of the job is tabling events where he gets to speak to students and their families about Drexel’s campus and the role of the Drexel Police Department.

In his free time, Chuck is a drummer in a local cover band, the Groove City Band, and has been playing drums since the age of 15. Chuck also offers sound technician services for many local acts. Although he has played all kinds of music, his favorite type to play is dance music as it gets everyone around involved. Chuck got his training as an intern at the Academy of Music, where he got to work with acts like Patti LaBelle, Howard Melvin and the Blue Notes, the Hooters, Evelyn “Champagne” King and more.

When asked what message he would share with the Drexel community, Chuck replied, “It takes more than just Drexel Public Safety to keep everyone on campus and the surrounding area safe; we need everyone's help! You can help by reporting suspicious activities, people or something that just doesn't look right. If you hear about something that might happen on campus, please let someone know. The smallest bit of information could save a life or prevent a crime.”

A flyer advertising National Night Out on Aug. 5 along Lancaster Walk
Come to Lancaster Walk on Aug. 5, 5-8 p.m., for National Night Out, an evening of activities, resources, food, live music and community.

Community Commitments

Join DPS for National Night Out on Aug. 5

Don’t miss this year’s National Night Out event on Aug. 5, 5–8 p.m., on Lancaster Walk! National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that aims to enhance relationships between neighbors and law enforcement. This year, Drexel welcomes back local agency and community partners for an opportunity to promote safety and foster camaraderie. The Groove City Band, featuring Drexel Police Officer Chuck Hendricks, will be playing all your dance favorites. New for this year, you can have your child fingerprinted through the National Child Identification Program. Drexel Public Safety welcomes all students, faculty, professional staff, and community members to join us for a night of fun, informational resources, food, live music and camaraderie.

Additional DPS Educational Programs

You can request any of the following presentations and trainings by completing the Request a Presentation Form.

  • Your Safety Is Our Goal: This virtual workshop is a great way to learn how to stay aware of your surroundings and always be prepared, not scared, when moving through the city.
  • Fire & Emergency Services, Emergency Preparedness: Offered by request, these tailored, data-driven awareness and training programs address how to prevent and respond to fires, medical emergencies, elevator entrapments, power outages, gas leaks and other emergencies.
  • Public Safety & U Workplace Safety Program: This educational program can be customized to address the unique security challenges of your unit.

Follow Drexel Public Safety on Instagram for safety tips, department events, plus FAQ Friday, in which you can get answers to frequently asked questions about the department. 

We Are Here for You When You Need Us

Please call 215.895.2222 immediately if you experience or witness a crime. Drexel’s Public Safety Communications Center is staffed 24/7 to serve you, whether or not you choose to remain anonymous when making a report. It is vital that crimes are reported promptly to Drexel Police so that they can be investigated, and so that Public Safety can connect the victim(s) with proper resources. You can also contact DPS through the Drexel Guardian app. Drexel Guardian will not track you nor share your information unless you initiate an emergency. To download the app, search for “Rave Guardian” in the app store or Google Play store.

Emergency Numbers

215.895.2222 or 911
TTY: 445.221.5436

Walking Escorts

215.895.2222