The West Virginia University Police would like to welcome all new and returning WVU Students.

The police department utilizes a force of 52 state-certified police officers, who provide armed police services and patrol campus buildings and parking lots 24 hours a day. The main goal of the WVU Police Department is to provide a safe and secure environment for everyone at WVU.

There are 37 “Blue Tower Emergency Phones” on campus that provide a voice link to the 911 communications center when activated. The WVU Police can also be reached 24 hours a day at 304-293-2677 or 304-293-COPS. Students may also contact WVU Police through the 911 emergency communications center by dialing 911 via off campus phones, or 9-911 on campus phones.

WVU Alert is a program that is used by the University to send urgent news to cell phones and MIX accounts in emergency situations on campus. For information about this free service, or to register for the program, go to http://emergency.wvu.edu/alert

The WVU campus is considered safe by most standards; however, no community is completely crime free. WVU Crime Prevention Officer, Lt. Randy Friend would like to offer the following tips to help students remain safe and secure while at WVU:

– Always secure your property and never leave books, book bags, or anything unattended. Remember to lock your residence hall room, apartment, and your vehicle.

– Trust your instincts. Never take any risk that may jeopardize your safety, or result in an injury.

– When travelling on foot at night stay in well lit, well travelled areas, and remember there is safety in numbers. Statistics indicate that the risk of being a victim of crime is reduced by up to 65 percent when travelling with companions.

– Don’t ever involve yourself in any type of activity that may result in your being arrested, or criminally cited.

Take time to visit the WVU Police website at: http://police.wvu.edu/. There is a wealth of safety and security information on our website, and crime statistics for WVU are provided there via the Clery Notice link.

The University Police Department is a professional, pro-active, community-oriented department that was created in 1961 by an act of the W.Va. Legislature to maintain law and order on the WVU campuses by working to prevent crime and by apprehending perpetrators when crimes do occur. The department is now one of the larger police departments in the state.

-WVU-

rf/8/21/09

Contacts:
Lt. Randy Friend
University Police
Office: (304) 293-3136