Police and Campus Safety

Chief of University Police: Don Strom Sergeant, safety programs: Gwendolyn Patton

Home Page: http://police.wustl.edu Telephone: (314) 935-5555

Police Services on the Hilltop Campus

The WUPD provides law enforcement services to the University's Hilltop Campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Officers patrol the campus on foot, on bicycles, and in cars. The staff of 31 includes 23 deputized police officers who have been trained in accordance with county and state requirements at the St. Louis County Police Academy. WUPD officers have received the same training as their counterparts in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County, meeting state requirements for police certification, They are armed and authorized to make arrests, investigate criminal and non-criminal incidents, and cooperate in the criminal justice process. On campus, WUPD officers possess the same authority as do St. Louis County police officers.

The University's Hilltop Campus is geographically located in four different police venues. Although the primary venue is unincorporated St. Louis County, buildings are also located in St. Louis City, University City, and the city of Clayton; WUPD maintains a liason with these venues through contacts with the police departments that have jurisdiction. St. Louis City, University City, and Clayton police departments provide the WUPD with reports of incidents occurring in their respective venues. In addition, the WUPD maintains close liason with other police departments through membership in police associations at the county, state, and national levels.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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WUSTLAlerts test Emergency notification system to be tested Oct. 21 Oct. 14, 2009 -- Washington University in St. Louis will test its emergency notification system, WUSTLAlerts, at approximately 12:50 p.m. Oct. 21. The test will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather that day or some other emergency is occurring at that time.

MEDIA ADVISORY Traffic congestion should be anticipated near the University on May 15 May 12, 2009 -- Traffic around the university will be very heavy the morning of Friday, May 15, due to the university's annual Commencement ceremony. Drivers may want to consider an alternate route.

ENS test Washington University in St. Louis' Emergency Notification System to be tested March 2 Feb. 24, 2009 -- Washington University in St. Louis will test its Emergency Notification System at noon Monday, March 2. The test will be held in conjunction with St. Louis County's monthly siren test, which occurs at 11 a.m. on the first Monday of each month.

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Faculty Experts:

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Don Strom Chief, University Police Don Strom Download Expertise: campus safety, security, crime prevention Direct contact: (314) 935-5514 / don_strom@wustl.edu

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Related News Clips:

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Back to Campus: Parental Anxiety 101 -- What moms and dads need to know Newsday (NY) Aug. 20, 2007 -- Parents across Long Island are asking questions these days as they help pack their children's belongings or accompany them to campuses across the country. Their minds are filled with questions about crime and campus security, communicating with their students, finances, academics, social life, and separation anxiety. One of the experts commenting is Karen Levin Coburn, WUSTL's associate dean for freshman transition and co-author of Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years.

One-time fugitive advances in Prescott City Council race Kansas City Star and 6 others Sept. 14, 2005 -- Update on WUSTL alum and former fugitive Howard Mechanic's efforts to win a seat on a local Arizona city council. He and 5 other candidates have advanced to the November general election. Mechanic used an ad which included details about his conviction and more recent community activism, thinking it would help quell rumors.

Ensuring Preparedness
Disaster readiness drill hosted by University
May 3, 2002 — The exercise was a regional effort involving agencies representing law enforcement, firefighters and hospitals.

Road Ready
University Police offers free car inspections to holiday travelers
Feb. 15, 2002 — Some of us know from experience that getting stranded in the middle of Kansas at night with a broken-down car is a bad, bad thing. So University Police and Hartmann's Towing offer free pre-trip inspections, checking wipers, fluid levels and air pressure among other things.

Protecting the Campus
Despite training as a journalist, Don Strom leads the WUSTL police force
March 2, 2001 — Although he has a background in radio and television, Chief of University Police Don Strom switched gears and has been serving in law enforcement for 25 years.