Reporting Emergencies or Crimes | The University of Alabama Police

The University of Alabama Police Department offers the following information and tips about reporting emergencies.

HOW TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY

For any emergency occurring on the UA campus, contact UAPD at 205-348-5454 or 911.

For emergencies or that occur off campus, call 911.

WHAT TO REPORT

When calling to report an emergency or crime, you will need to provide the following information:

Your name
Telephone number
Location or address
The nature and location of the emergency or crime

Stay on the telephone line until the Police Communications Operator tells you to hang up.

IN AN EMERGENCY

Stay calm and use common sense to render assistance where needed.
Evacuate buildings promptly and orderly when requested by authorities, when a fire alarm is activated, or if a situation becomes life-threatening.
Familiarize yourself with at least two exits you could use in an emergency.
Use the telephone only for emergency purposes.
Use stairs instead of elevators in case of fire.
Prioritize safety over property to protect your life and the lives of others.
Respect police barriers and follow the instructions of authorities.
Report emergencies immediately to the University Police.

TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

For all medical emergencies, call UAPD at 205-348-5454 or 911. UAPD officers will most likely arrive before paramedics and will render first aid.

If you are interested in first aid or CPR training, Save A Life Training (SALT) is offered by the Emergency Medical Services Program, a part of the Institute for Rural Health Research in the College of Community Health Sciences. Contact Travis Parker for more information.

REPORTING CRIMES OF SEXUAL NATURE

UAPD encourages anyone who has been or becomes a victim or survivor of a crime of a sexual nature to seek assistance as soon as possible after the incident. Resources exist that are designed to provide both physical and emotional support and counseling for sexual assault victims/survivors. Regardless of whether the victim/survivor decides to report the incident to law enforcement and where the incident occurred, we encourage the victim/survivor to seek out the other support that is available below. For emergencies, always dial 911 or 205-348-5454.

FIRE

In the event of fire:

Pull the fire alarm and start an orderly evacuation of the building.
If you know how to use a fire extinguisher, and it is safe to do so, attempt to put out the fire.
If the fire is too large to be put out by a fire extinguisher, leave the room and close the door.
From a safe location, call UAPD at 911 or 205-348-5454 immediately.

For fire alarms:

When a fire alarm sounds, all building occupants must promptly evacuate.
Re-entry is only permitted when authorized by UAPD, Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue (TFR), or the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

BOMB THREATS AND SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES

BOMB THREATS

Bomb threats are usually made by telephone. If you receive such a call, remain calm and get as much information as you can from the caller.

Ask the following:

Where is the bomb?
When will the bomb explode?
What kind of bomb is it?
What will cause it to explode?
What does it look like?
Who placed the bomb?
Why did they place the bomb?
What is your name?
Where are you?

Call UAPD immediately at 205-348-5454 and provide the information you obtained. Try to describe the caller's voice, any background noises you heard, and the exact wording of the message.

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES

UAPD and our partners law enforcement agencies have the equipment and training to deal with suspicious items. If you receive or observe a suspicious letter or package:

Do not panic and do not open the package. If you have opened it, remain calm.
Call UAPD at 205-348-5454.
If you are off campus, call your local police or 911.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

CHEMICAL SPILLS

Do not try to clean up a chemical spill unless you know the chemical(s) involved, the protective equipment to use, materials needed, and how to proceed without endangering yourself or others.

In the event of a spill:

Provide first aid to any injured people.
Confine the spill by spreading absorbent material around the spill area.
If flammable liquids are spilled, extinguish all ignition sources such as Bunsen burners. Do not turn on any electrical switches or equipment.
Call UAPD at 205-348-5454 and/or EHS at 205-348-5905.

GAS LEAKS

If you suspect a gas leak, immediately contact UAPD at 205-348-5454 or 911 and leave the area.

FOR ANY EMERGENCY ON THE UA CAMPUS,
CALL 911 or 205-348-5454

REPORTING CRIME

Despite everyone’s best efforts, people will become victims of crime. If that happens to you, UAPD will provide you with as much help and information as possible.

HOW TO REPORT A CRIME

To report a crime that happens on campus, call UAPD at 205-348-5454.

To report crimes that happen off campus, contact the agency that has jurisdiction for where the crime occurred.

Tuscaloosa Police Department – 205-349-2121
Northport Police Department – 205-339-6600
Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department – 205-752-0616
Alabama State Troopers – 205-553-5531
If you are unsure who has jurisdiction for where the crime occurred, call UAPD to be connected to the correct agency.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU REPORT A CRIME

When you call UAPD to report a crime, a police report may be filed. A police officer will meet with you and take the report after gathering all available facts. The completed report will be forwarded to an investigator, who may contact you for an interview to gather additional information.

If a suspect is developed in the case, you will be asked how you want to proceed with the case. You may choose to:

Have the suspect arrested and prosecuted through the criminal court system.
Have UAPD issue the suspect a conduct referral to the Office of Student Conduct if the suspect is a UA student.
Do nothing to the suspect.

UAPD investigators are here to help you. If you choose to prosecute the suspect, an investigator will more than likely be in court with you to testify on the findings of the investigation.

If within 60 days you are not notified of an arrest in your case, you may call a UAPD investigator at 205-347-0500 to check on the status of the case. Be prepared to give your name, the date of the crime, and/or a case number to the investigator.

UAPD and our local partner law enforcement agencies exchange information regularly and work together in many efforts aimed at improving the safety of our community. These cooperative efforts enable UAPD to work with and for UA students and employees in situations that occur off campus.

VISIT THE UAct WEBSITE FOR MORE REPORTING OPTIONS