In an attempt to reduce fear/apprehension of crime on campus, University Police Department (UPD) Officers will provide a visible presence to help promote an atmosphere of safety for students, faculty/staff and all visitors.
UPD Officers will respond to calls for service on campus, i.e., disturbance, trespassing, property destruction, theft, accident, etc. They will intervene in disturbances and investigate reported crime on campus. They will contact emergency services when needed and (since becoming a campus police department in March of 2008) commissioned officers will investigate all criminal activity, including submitting cases to the Jasper County Prosecutor's office for the filing of charges. In addition to police functions, the officers are trained as first responders to deal with injuries and/or serious illness on campus through training in basic first aid, CPR and the use of the Automatic External Defibrillator.
UPD Officers will compile reports documenting crimes, significant occurrences, accidents, etc. that occur on campus. Copies of those reports are available at the UPD Office for a nominal charge.
In order to assure that handicapped persons have adequate parking, that emergency personnel have access and to facilitate safety and order on campus, UPD Officers will enforce all traffic and parking regulations on campus. University police officers may also enforce all Missouri State Statutes on campus.
UPD Officers provide security services at events on campus to insure that participants can enjoy the events with little concern for disruptions.
In addition to the various other duties, UPD Officers check to insure that buildings are properly locked in the evening hours. They also unlock doors to allow access for authorized persons entering buildings in the early morning hours and on weekends.
To insure the safety of all students and Resident Advisors in the dorms, UPD Officers are on duty during the midnight hours to watch for unauthorized persons and to enforce the rules of the dorms. UPD Officers are committed to making sure the campus remains free from drugs/alcohol and violence.
UPD Officers provide many courtesy services for students and faculty/staff, i.e., unlocking cars, jump starts, escorts, etc. Any student or faculty/staff member are encouraged to contact a UPD Officer with any problem and they will directly assist or direct the person to the agency/service who can provide the assistance.
A fire Safety / Haz Mat officer is responsible for gathering and disposing of all biological and chemical hazardous materials on campus. He is also responsible for the inspection and maintenance of fire suppression items on campus.
The Clery Act requires a timely warning to be given to the campus community in certain instances. In accordance with the act, the MSSU PD will issue a crime alert in a timely manner for on-going threats to safety and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes. Specifically, these crimes will include situations that are reported to the UPD and that are considered serious or continuing threats to the campus population. Warnings will be communicated via text messages (Rave system), e-mails, posted notices, and/or media sources at the discretion of the Chief of the University Police Department.
The University Police Department uses the A.L.I.C.E. (Alert/Lockdown/Inform/Counter/Evacuate) training to teach students how to survive if they were to be confronted by a violent person with a weapon in a group setting. The "swarm" method (a technique for distracting and securing an attacker) is only used as a last resort when students are trapped and escape isn't possible.
UPD Officers provide literature regarding ways to be safe on and off campus, as well as how to keep property from being stolen. Those types of materials can be picked up at the UPD Office at the West end of the campus. To ask questions about the University Police Department, please call the University Police Chief at 417-625-9741.
