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FAQs

Please use the contact info below:

  • Emergencies: 508-999-9191 or x9191
  • Information: 508-999-8107 or x8107
  • Anonymous Tip Line: 508-999-8477 or x8477
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Go to a safe place. Then contact someone you trust and tell them what happened. They can help you consider options, obtain medical care and support you. If you can, write down, or have your support person write down, everything you can remember about the assault/rape.

Get medical care. Go to the hospital emergency room for treatment.

It is your choice to report the crime to the police. Reporting the crime does not obligate you to pursue prosecution of a suspect. If you want police assistance: on campus, contact the University Police/Department of Public Safety. The emergency number is 508-999-9191 or x9191; the non-emergency number is 508-999-8107 or x8107; off campus, contact the local police at 911.

Reporting the crime can help you gain a sense of control and can help ensure the safety of other potential victims. In order to preserve evidence, clothes should not be laundered and a shower should not be taken.

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Alcohol poisoning is an "overdose of alcohol."  It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.  If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, you should call the university police immediately at 508-999-9191 or x9191. (Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness. Make the call.) Then:

  • Do not leave the person alone
  • Do not give the person anything to eat or drink
  • Roll the person onto his/her side and monitor his/her breathing (should be approximately 10-12 breaths/minute) until medical assistance arrives
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Yes, after investigation of such an incident, the preferred response by the responding officers shall be to arrest an individual if it is determined that there is probable cause of abuse as defined in C209A of the Massachusetts General Laws. If there is a restraining order in effect, then the officer shall arrest the violator of the order.

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During the course of their duties, police officers may need to stop citizens for various reasons. From time to time, it becomes necessary for a police officer to stop people in the community to make an inquiry. Usually this occurs in areas of high crime, soon after a crime has been committed or in an area at an odd hour of the day/night. The most frequent stop or encounter that occurs between police officers and citizens is the traffic stop. If an officer stops you, your forthright responses will usually quickly resolve the situation.

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UMass Dartmouth is a community, and its members should be able to learn, live, work, and take part in recreational activities in an atmosphere that is as safe as possible. The members of the Department of Public Safety are here--24 hours a day, 365 days a year--to provide a professional level of service and to ensure a safe environment for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

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The department is led by the Chief of Police / Director of Public Safety.

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The Department of Public Safety provides police services, community policing programs, crime prevention and safety services, as well as dispatch, security and parking services. Department staff provide safety escorts, offer informative presentations to students and staff on a number of safety and crime prevention topics. Select department members also instruct women in self-defense through the RAD system. Learn more about our services on the University Police website.

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UMass Dartmouth police officers receive the same initial training through the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) (PDF) as municipal law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the MPTC. Officers are also assigned frequently to attend in-depth training in a wide variety of specialized topics such as crime prevention theory, the investigations of sexual assaults and bias-related incidents. In addition to specialized training, our officers also receive annual in-service training covering areas such as firearms training, first-responder training, and legal updates.

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UMass Dartmouth police officers are sworn under Chapter 75, Section 32A of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They are vested with full law enforcement powers and have the same authority as the police officers in any city or town in Massachusetts.

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The university police officer may patrol the campus in various ways; they may patrol using marked police cruisers, on foot, on mountain bikes and ATV. Police officers are vested with full law enforcement powers and receives the same initial training as municipal law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth. Police officers are responsible for enforcing the Massachusetts General Laws as well as university policies.

The university security officers (also known as Institutional Security Officers - ISO) also patrol the campus on foot or using the Parking Enforcement vehicle. ISOs have the authority to enforce university policies; however, security officers do not have the power to arrest.

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Quick Links

Emergency call boxes are located throughout the University. They are part of a two-way radio emergency communication system which provides anyone with a direct communication link to the police dispatcher when activated. Once activated, police personnel are dispatched immediately to offer assistance.

Campus Map (with Call Box locations)

The UMass Dartmouth Police Department is committed to community policing, a philosophy that supports building partnerships, proactive problem solving and fostering positive community interactions with the goal of reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life for all students, faculty and staff. As members of the university community, university Police Officers are responsible for identifying, prioritizing and solving problems, issues and concerns.

The UMass Dartmouth Police Department strives to maintain high-visibility foot patrols and mountain bike patrols to ensure positive community interactions.

Officers work closely with the Office of Residence Life and Housing to help foster a good relationship with its staff and the more than 4,400 resident students on campus. Members are available to make presentations to residence hall groups and to share printed material on crime prevention and safety.

The goals and objectives of our crime prevention programs are to maintain public awareness of crime on campus, provide preventive safety measures regarding both personal safety and property, proactively review lighting and brush issues on campus and to research new methods to reduce crime and the fear of crime on campus.

An important element in crime prevention is educating members of the campus community on how to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of personal or property crime. For this reason, the department has a certified Crime Prevention Officer/Coordinator dedicated full-time to many crime prevention programs.

Laptop Theft Prevention Tips

  • Never leave your laptop out in the open and unattended.
  • Keep doors and windows to your dorm or apartment locked at all times.
  • Consider purchasing one of the new theft alarm systems (theft retrieval program / tracking and recovery) made for laptops. Compu-trace, Lojack, etc.
  • Back up your information on disks today. Store them at home or office in a safe place.
  • Use a cable lock that wraps around a desk or table. Stationary unbreakable object.
  • Don't let unaccompanied strangers wander around in your dorm or workplace.
  • Apply distinctive paint markings or laptop covers to make your laptop unique and easily identifiable.
  • Lock your laptop in your office prior to leaving the office each day.
  • Write down the serial number and model number and keep it in a safe secure place.
  • Return the completed warranty card to the manufacturer. This may help “flag it” it a thief ever sends it in the maintenance.
  • Even in a locker vehicle, never leave a laptop in plain sight.
  • Do not prop open your door.
  • Do not position laptop visibly in your vehicle where they are subject to a “smash and grab' type theft.
  • Back up important data daily.
  • Do not leave sensitive data on the computer, example, social security numbers, student information, personal phone numbers, or credit card numbers.
  • Use your laptops (USS) Universal Security Slot to attach to a cable and lock and secure it to a stationary unbreakable object.

Contact Officer Amanda Mullaly at 508.999.8770 or email for more information.  When you make an appointment bring a completed Laptop Registration Form.       

The UMassD Police Department has put together Fire Alarm Info Guide to serve as a quick reference on how to act during a fire emergency.

Review our Fraud Prevention and Scam Safety Information website to learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Recognition of exceptional job performance is always appreciated. The best way to commend the actions of a UMass Dartmouth Police employee is to send an email describing the incident and the actions you think were exceptional. Information such as the date, time and location helps identify the employee if you do not know his or her name.

Commendations are forwarded to the employees with a copy distributed to their supervisor. 

General Questions, Comments

To contact the Department with questions or comments about a specific action, or with recommendations on how we can improve, or to acknowledge service excellence by an employee, please call 508-999-8107.

Complaints

An inquiry or complaint may be made by letter, telephone, email or in person at the UMass Dartmouth Police Station. Persons wishing to make a complaint by telephone should be aware that a signed written complaint will be requested. However, no complaint will be refused because the complainant does not wish to sign a complaint or identify themselves.

Any UMass Dartmouth police officer or dispatcher may accept an initial inquiry or complaint regarding policies or procedures. However, if the inquiry or complaint is about personnel, the on-duty shift supervisor may be contacted. The supervisor will ensure that the inquiry is heard and or directed to the proper authority.  If the inquiry or complaint appears to be based on a misunderstanding of acceptable or desired conduct, procedures or practices, the shift supervisor may offer an explanation and offer a resolution to the complainant. If the complainant is not satisfied with the explanation or resolution, the Department will honor your request to have the matter investigated.

The goal of the UMass Dartmouth Police Department is to ensure that the integrity of the department is maintained through a system where objectivity, fairness, and justice are assured by intensive impartial investigation and review.

You may download the Public Safety Complaint Form to assist you in filing a complaint.

Complaint Procedure

Any person requesting to make a complaint against an employee of the Department may come to the station and speak with a supervisor. If the complaint is not handled to your satisfaction, upon request, you will be given a copy of a complaint form to fill out. This form is to be filled out while at the station and is not to leave the UMDPD police station. Complainants may prepare a separate written narrative and attach this to the complaint form. The form is to be submitted to the shift supervisor prior to leaving the station.

Written complaints will be forwarded to the Chief of Police / Director of Public Safety for further review. Complainants will be contacted and advised that the matter is under investigation. Complainants will also be provided with periodic status reports and written notice of the final disposition of the case.

In most instances, investigations will be completed within 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances. Complainants will be notified of the results of the investigation in writing upon conclusion of the investigation.

Watch the "If You See Something, Say Something" video to learn about ways to stay safe and aware.

The UMass Dartmouth Police Department encourages residents who have unused or expired medications to dispose of them using the MedReturn Box located in the lobby of the police station. The medication return box is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and allows residents to safely and anonymously dispose of medications they no longer need free of charge.

Acceptable Medications include:

  • Pills, Capsules and Patches
  • Prescription Medications
  • Prescription Ointments
  • Liquid Medicines in unbreakable, leak-proof containers
  • Over the Counter Medications
  • Vitamins
  • Pet Medications

Medications should be discarded in their original packaging. Please blackout any personal information on the label.

  • UMass Dartmouth provides shuttle service to members of the campus community.  Call 774.929.3826
  • After-hours safety escorts may be arranged by contacting the University Police Department. Call 508-999-8107

If you see or hear of something happening which you believe should be brought to the attention of the police, you can report it here by filling out the form linked below. Please provide as much detail as you can about date, time, location, descriptions or names of involved persons, and details of the incident. If vehicles are involved, a license plate and car description would be very useful. It would also be helpful if you would be willing to talk to one of our officers -- if you are willing to help in this way, provide your contact information on the form. Otherwise there is no way to trace who sent the information. If you would rather talk with someone on the phone, call 508-999-8477.

Thank you for your assistance in keeping our community safe.

Click here to fill out the Silent Witness/Tipline form.

The department is composed of professional police, security and public safety personnel. Our police officers are vested with full law enforcement powers and receive the same initial training as municipal law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Officers are required to attend the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee Recruit Academy and are supplemented by ongoing in-service training each year. Each new police recruit receives 8 weeks of field training through a standardized Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP).

Related links