About the Department

Overview

Police officers of the UCSC Police Department are duly sworn peace officers under section 830.2(b) of the California Penal Code. The officers of the department are armed and possess the same authority under the law as municipal police officers. UCSC Police Officers patrol the campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They enforce the law, arrest violators, investigate and suppress crime, investigate traffic and bicycle accidents, and provide a full range of services to the community. The UCSC Police Department has police officers responsible for specialized assignments including crime prevention, investigation, bicycle patrol and motorcycle patrol.

All requests for police services should be made to the UCSC Police Department located on campus across from the Women's Center. It is important that all crimes occurring on campus be immediately reported to the Police Department to ensure that appropriate action can be taken. Emergencies requiring police, fire, or medical aid can be reported in person or by dialing 911 from any telephone on campus. Emergencies can also be reported by using one of the "Blue Light" emergency phones located throughout the campus. Non-emergency calls for assistance can be reported by dialing the UCSC Police Department at (831) 459-2231.

Mission

The mission of the University of California Police Department at Santa Cruz is to provide safety and security related services to the University community and to enforce all laws pertaining to orderly conduct on its premises. These also include traffic, animal control, and parking regulations. Police officers in the Department are sworn to enforce state laws, city and county ordinances, and campus regulations. The Department also provides referrals to resources in the greater community such as victim assistance and mental health services.

Vision

The UCSC Police Department will be known for its community service orientation, effectiveness at preventing crime through community involvement, and for providing a safe living and working environment for the promotion of higher education, research, and public service.

Our enforcement actions will be based on respect for individual rights, as well as our commitment to protect the safety of all persons within our community.

We will strive for professionalism and integrity by maintaining high ethical and performance standards. Our policies and procedures will be designed to give simple, clear guidance to all personnel.

We will encourage and support technological advances, training and professional skill development to enhance our effectiveness and to provide the safest possible environment for all Police Department staff. We will provide career growth opportunities for staff based on special interests and abilities which increase the Department's effectiveness.

The Department will remain committed to a cooperative team effort between all divisions. We will encourage, and provide support for employees to be pro-active and flexible in identifying problems and solutions within the Department, and the community we serve.

Core Values

Public Service: We deliver to the public high quality service which is fair, courteous, responsive, and efficient. We are cognizant of the need to involve the UCSC community in creating a secure and safe atmosphere.

Competence: We maintain high standards of training and expertise and keep abreast of new trends and standards in the field of law enforcement.

Responsibility and Accountability: We make effective use of our resources and provide a spirit of open communication within our community. We are responsible for our actions. We admit our mistakes and strive to earn the trust and support of our community.

Respect for Co-workers: We maintain a workplace environment based on mutual respect which reflects an appreciation of the unique qualities of each individual who contributes to the overall good of our team.