Our Mission

University Police is committed to serving the University community and the surrounding area by utilizing a proactive approach to crime prevention and by providing professional, courteous and effective Law Enforcement Service to our Community.

To accomplish our mission, the University Police promote a safe environment and elevated quality of life using a community policing philosophy, which nurtures viable partnerships and effective educational programs.

Community Policing

The University Police work closely with students, faculty and staff in a Community Policing program which contributes to a reasonably safe living, learning and research environment for the Evanston and Chicago campuses.

• Fosters positive community interaction.
• Increases informal police contact with the community. This allows officers to meet with community members regularly and enhance community crime awareness and active participation.
• Develops community based programs to educate and encourages the community to report crime and suspicious activity.
• Enhances crime prevention efforts by conducting crime prevention presentations, security surveys and a variety of other programs.
• Works with the community to identify problems and mutually develop solutions to those problems.

Responsibilities

The University Police Department has the primary responsibility for crime prevention, law enforcement, parking control, emergency response and policing of special events. University Police are also responsible for various other community services on the Evanston and Chicago campuses.

University Police provide a full range of campus services 24 hours a day, 365 days ayear. Sworn University Police personnel have the same authority as municipal police officers / county sheriffs, are authorized to carry firearms and are empowered to make arrest.

University Police investigate reported criminal incidents and conduct follow-up investigations. As appropriate, criminal charges are filed and/or referrals to Student Affairs are initiated.

University Police act as a resource for the University community providing a variety of services including offering community safety and security programs.

University Police maintain close working relationships with the Evanston Police and Chicago Police Departments, including jointly investigating major incidents.

Through the use of a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, officer activity is recorded for statistical analysis purposes. Calls for service are documented and evaluated to provide enhanced community service.

The Evanston and Chicago campus University Police Department (which includes the Parking Services Division in Evanston) is made up of 60 members. Most Police Officers and Supervisors have a Bachelor's degree and some have advanced degrees.

On the Chicago campus, contract security personnel man stationary posts and make rounds in various campus buildings and University owned parking garages. Contract security personnel supplement University Police resources providing assistance and acting as additional "eyes and ears" on campus.