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Reporting a Crime or Getting Emergency Assistance

Criminal or suspicious acts and emergencies should be reported to the police immediately-in person, by telephone, or by using one of the emergency phones strategically located around campus.

The University of Mary Washington Police Department is located in Brent Hall. The dispatch office is staffed 24 hours a day, year round, and is able to provide you information that you may need. The University's Police Department handles all law enforcement calls for service as well as fire and emergency medical calls on campus. UMW Police Dispatchers, trained in emergency medical dispatch procedures, will also notify the City of Fredericksburg Emergency Operations Center for a response by a city fire and/or ambulance unit for these types of calls on campus.

The UMW Police Department maintains two telephone numbers:

  1. Police, Fire and Rescue emergency calls on campus: dial "777."  The "777" system is similar to "911" in other jurisdictions and dials directly into the UMW Police Communications Office for on-campus police, fire, or rescue emergencies.  If you are unable to speak, stay on the line. The dispatcher will be abel to ascertain your locations. Otherwise, follow the dispatcher's instructions.
  2. Police non-emergency: dial 654-1025 (only the last four digits "1025" need to be dialed from an on-campus phone). DO NOT DIAL "911" from a UMW campus phone. "911" is answered by the Fredericksburg 911 Center, and the necessity of transferring calls back to the UMW Police would delay an emergency response.

How to report an emergency on campus:

POLICE:

  1. Dial "777" from any on-campus telephone.
  2. Give the location of the incident.
  3. Describe what is happening or what you have observed.
  4. Give a description of the suspect(s).
  5. Give the suspect's means and direction of travel.
  6. Stay on the phone and answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
  7. Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

RESCUE:

  1. Dial "777" from any on-campus telephone.
  2. Give the nature of the injury or illness.
  3. Give the location where the first aid unit is needed.
  4. Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
  5. Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

FIRE:

  1. Dial "777" from any on-campus telephone.
  2. Give the location of the fire or fire alarm.
  3. Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
  4. Exit the building.

For hearing-impaired persons, the UMW Police Office maintains a TDD unit which is monitored 24 hours a day at the following number (540) 654-1103.

Alternate Method of Reporting a Crime

Another method of reporting a crime on campus is by utilizing the Silent Witness system available on the UMW Police website. The Silent Witness program enables students, faculty and staff to report information about crimes via the Intenet on an anonymous basis. All information is kept in the strictest confidence and is only accessible to authorized Police personnel. You may access the Silent Witness program through UMW Police website main screen or at the following Internet address:  http://departments.UMW.edu/police

UMW Police PatchAny questions, comments or concerns in reference to Police procedures, policies, regulations or other similar matters, email Police Director James Snipes at jsnipes@umw.edu