About the University Police
UAPD
Welcome
to the University of Alabama campus. The University of Alabama Police
Department’s goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for
all members of our community- students, faculty, staff as well as visitors
to our campus. However, we must share that responsibility with you. University
Police work to help you maintain your personal safety and to protect your
property by providing full law enforcement services and by sharing information
you can use to reduce your chances of becoming a crime victim. University
Police provide an array of services that include Police Patrol, Investigations,
Community Services and Police Communications. UAPD works closely with
the other areas of responsibility within Public Safety - Enviornmental
Health and Safety, Security Resources, and the Crimson Choice Program
for a comprehensive approach to student and faculty-staff wellbeing. Our
goal is to partner with you to make the campus community a safe and secure
place in which to live, work, and learn.
To partner with members of the University community to maintain an environment of safety conducive to the accomplishment and fulfillment of the University of Alabama's overall mission by providing information and services that enhance personal safety and protect resources.
Values Statement
The University of Alabama Police Department strives for its members to be honest, ethical, and professional. The department seeks to safeguard individual rights and to treat all with respect and courtesy.
Vision Statement
To be a department that continuously improves the quality of service provided to the University community by emphasizing the prevention of crime through effective use of information technology, personal communication skills, and professional standards.
Since the founding of The University of Alabama in 1831, the security of the University properties was generally the responsibility of students, faculty, and night watchmen. In 1946, the University of Alabama formed a police department by the hiring of a chief and three police officers. Training consisted of one month under the tutelage of the chief, after which, the officers had arrest powers. The department was originally located in an office in Woods Hall, and then relocated to a small room in the Union building in 1947.
University Police moved to Gorgas Hall in the mid 1960s and remained there until October 2005. UAPD moved to temporary quarters in New Hall (current location) while awaiting the construction of a new facility. In 1998, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. accredited the department’s police function. University police officers are granted arrest powers under state law and are certified by the State of Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission. Typically, a new police officer receives 240 hours of orientation training, 480 hours of training at the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Academy, 440 hours of field training and evaluation before beginning a 1,040 hour probationary period.
University Police currently has 62 authorized full-time sworn positions and nine full-time civilian employees. The University Police Department has three major areas of responsibility: Patrol Operations / Administration, Specialized Resources, and Operations Support. Each area is committed to working with community members to maintain a safe environment for the 1.5 square mile campus that includes over 200 buildings, and over 27,000 students and faculty/staff.
The deputy police chief commands Patrol Operations and Administration with a staff of 33 sworn personnel, including four lieutenants and four sergeants.
Patrol provides basic patrol functions 24 hours a day for the protection of persons and property. Patrol officers provide a wide variety of law enforcement services including responding to calls for service, writing reports, conducting preliminary investigations, checking the security of university property, providing traffic enforcement and traffic accident investigation. Officers patrol in marked police vehicles, on foot, or by police bicycles.
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Bama Escort Service Provided by Security Resources. Don't walk alone at night. Instead, use the Bama Escort Service, a Public Safety program, to get a free ride between locations on campus or between nearby residences and campus. Rides are available during the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. by calling (205) 348-RIDE. Drivers are dispatched to your location as soon as safely possible. While all calls are dispatched as soon as possible, high demand sometimes results in an unavoidable wait for those requesting rides. The service area includes neighborhoods between the campus and Queen City Avenue to the west, 15th Street to the south, Helen Keller Boulevard to the east, and Jack Warner Parkway to the north. While Bama Escort makes every effort to provide this service, there may be various extenuating circumstances (severe weather, driver illness, etc.) where we are unable to operate during these hours. Bama Escort is intended as a support service for academic purposes, however, and does not service establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold. Designated drivers, or local taxi services are viable alternatives if you need transportation to or from such establishments
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Police Communications Police Communications is the center of information for the University Police. The communications office receives calls for service from the university community and dispatches the appropriate response. Police Communications Operators are on duty 24 hours a day. |
Specialized Resources is headed by a police captain and administers a variety of programs aimed at increasing safety awareness of the university community, as well as fostering a positive and congenial working relationship between the department and the community. Specialized Resources includes the work units of Criminal Investigations, Residential Life Community Oriented Policing Program, and Community Services. Specialized Resources also handles public information duties for the department.
The criminal investigation unit is responsible for the follow-up investigations of all criminal offenses occurring on university owned or leased property. University Police also assign investigators to two multi-agency task forces: the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force (WANTF) and the Tuscaloosa Metro Violent Crimes Unit (Homicide Unit).
Residential Life Community Oriented Policing Program (COP)
The community oriented policing program uses a philosophy of full-service, personalized policing where the same officer is assigned to a specific geographical area, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems. Officers work out of satellite offices located within the residential areas they serve. The focus of community oriented policing is not simply on responding to crime, but on preventing crime and resolving community problems.
Community Services directs its efforts toward reducing criminal opportunity through educational programming. Crime prevention programming is provided through the university housing areas, greek organizations and the university community at large. The Community Services unit also performs the public information function, informing the public about the occurrence of crime on campus. If serious incidents occur on campus or near campus, an advisory is issued informing the community of the incident.
Operations Support is responsible for the areas of training and career development, planning and research, professional standards and accreditation, internal affairs, and network systems administration. Operations Support is staffed by a captain and two lieutenants.
The training and career development function is responsible for providing professional education to sworn members of the department and oversees orientation training, field training, and continuing and advanced training programs in the department. New officers are provided with 640 hours of training in addition to the training received at the 480-hour Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission academy. Officers attend a minimum of 60 hours of training a year afterwards.
The planning and research function is responsible for providing policy and planning support to the chief of police and for researching new techniques to improve law enforcement service delivery. This includes development of strategic plans, operational plans, and policies and procedures.
The professional standards and accreditation function is responsible for overseeing the department's adherence to accreditation standards. This function maintains proofs of standard compliance and performs staff inspections to assess the effectiveness of departmental processes.
The internal affairs function is responsible for overseeing the investigation of all complaints against departmental personnel. The department holds its employees to the highest professional standards and vigorously investigates any allegations of employee malfeasance or misconduct. Internal affairs also makes policy and training recommendations based on analysis of complaints.
Network systems administration
is responsible for overseeing and maintaining departmental computer systems,
including the department's records management system, computer aided dispatch
system, digital voice recording system, and state and national crime computer
link. Network systems administration provides analysis of data to assist
in management decisions and reports crime statistics to state and federal
government.
The University of Alabama Police Department accepts applications during the months of January and July. During February and March and again in August and September, applicants are administered a written test and must appear before a review board. The police candidate list is published shortly after the review board process. This list will normally serve for a period of twelve months.
If you are interested or have any questions, please contact the staff of the University of Alabama Employment Office in person or by phone at 348-7732.
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