Georgetown University

Divisions

The Department of Public Safety is divided into six units: Field Operations, Investigations, Systems Management, Crime Prevention and Community Relations, Student Guard Program, and Accreditation and Training.

Field Operations

The Georgetown University Department of Public Safety has a primary responsibility for the protection of life and property, detection and prevention of crime, and the preservation of the public order. Field Operation officers are responsible for providing all foot and motorized patrols on campus. Officers are assigned to permanent beats in order to create partnerships between them and members of the University community in line with Department of Public Safety’s community oriented policing philosophy. Field Operations personnel respond to all calls. Once an officer arrives at the scence, he/she assesses the incident and determines the appropriate course of action. These officers may interview witnesses or victims, recover property, order a building evacuation, direct traffic and make arrests.

Campus Police Officers enforce these duties through vehicular, motorized, and foot patrols of the university properties 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Field Operations unit employs three standard shifts, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. / 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., on a 24 hour basis daily and often implements additional shifts at varying time periods to accommodate special operations and respond to university needs.

Investigations

The Investigative unit is responsible for following up on all criminal and non-criminal incidents reported to the Department of Public Safety and determining the appropriate course of action and referrals for individuals involved in an arrest, citation or other incident. Referrals may include arrest and processing through the District of Columbia criminal justice system, the Georgetown University student conduct system and/or another outside agency as the situation warrants. The unit is directly responsible for, but not limited to, investigative services arising from:

  • Criminal Incidents as defined in the District of Columbia Criminal Code, such as Burglaries, Robbery, and Thefts
  • Sexual Assaults and matters of Domestic Violence
  • Alcohol and Substance Abuse Violations
  • Suspicious Mail or Packages
  • Incidents of Harassment or Stalking

The university community is encouraged to report all criminal and suspicious incidents, and may do so in an anonymous and confidential manner by calling the Anonymous Tip Line at (202) 687-2320 or complete the online anonymous tip form.

Investigative personnel coordinate with external agencies, recover evidence, interview alleged perpetrators, witnesses and victims, provide court testimony and obtain arrest warrants. Much of this work is often confidential, consistent with federal law and university policies, in order to protect the privacy of individuals involved and most successfully collaborate with other agencies.

Systems Management

The Systems Management unit includes the communications dispatchers who man the Department of Public Safety's Communications Center -- a state of the art emergency call center and video surveillance monitoring station. These personnel monitor and receive all of the Department of Public Safety's incoming telephone lines, emergency call boxes, and fire and burglar alarms and dispatch assistance for police services.

Communications dispatchers receive in-service training each year in such areas as telephone courtesy, crisis intervention, computer and radio operations.

Crime Prevention and Community Relations

The Crime Prevention and Community Relations section promotes ongoing awareness of crime prevention at Georgetown University by planning, developing and implementing anti-crime strategies. Programs include safety presentations, security audits, sponsoring personal safety week, and self-defense work-shops.  In addition, the Department of Public Safety provides monthly training and orientation sessions for all Georgetown University employees.  Learn more about the Department of Public Safety's crime prevention services.

Student Guard Program

The Student Guard program employs approximately 100 student guards to monitor access to campus residence halls and complexes as well as facilities including New South, LXR, Kennedy Hall, Darnall Hall, Copley Hall, Harbin Hall, Village C, Reiss Science Building, Lauinger Library, McCarthy Hall, Reynolds Hall and Walsh. Learn more about the Department of Public Safety's student guard program.

Accreditation and Training

The Accreditation and Training unit regularly reviews DPS operations to continually improve procedures and maximize resources and effectiveness. This unit ensures that the Department of Public Safety meets all standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the national accrediting agency for law enforcement personnel. Georgetown University's Department of Public Safety was one of the first law enforcement agency in the District of Columbia to receive CALEA accreditation, and has successfully maintained it since 1994.

This section also coordinates and conducts regular training for DPS officers and sergeants on topics including the District of Columbia criminal code, Georgetown University rules and regulations, current security practices, and anti-harassment, diversity and sensitivity training.