Campus police ensure safety

The UVU police department aims to keep campus safe 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Their mission is to ensure that the student body is safe at all times.

“[The campus is pretty] darn safe. We have a pretty low crime rate,” Police Chief John Brewer said. “[Our] biggest problem on campus is theft.”

With backpacks and other personal items left unattended, the opportunities for thieves to steal are many. According to Brewer, theft is largely avoidable by paying attention.

A suggested way to keep safe while on campus is to be aware of the surrounding environment. Don’t get too caught up in using a cell phone, avoid becoming complacent and walk in pairs if possible. In the event that there has been a crime committed, whether you are a victim or a witness, the police are there to assist. They will come and check out any suspicious activity and/or anything else that may be amiss.

There are eight officers and a dozen reserve officers that work for the UVU police department. The officers spend 50 percent of their time patrolling the campus by car and the other 50 percent of their time on foot in the halls or patrolling other areas on campus not accessible by car.

UVU police consider risk management to be an important part what they do on campus. In addition to keeping their eyes open for security risks and crime, “[The officers on night duty] look for broken things, issues with lighting and are always looking for ways to make the campus safer,” Brewer said.

An added security feature on campus is that phones are located in all the elevators on campus, which can be use to contact the police department. Another way to reach the campus police is by dialing them directly at 801-863-5555 or if you are near a campus phone dial 5555. If that is not an option, dial 911.

For more information and tips on safety go to www.UVU.edu/Police