UMW Police
The Annual Security Report of University of Mary Washington is published and distributed by October 1st of each year in accordance with congressional reporting requirements as set forth in the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act otherwise known as the Clery Act under 20 U.S.C. 1092f.
Prospective students may obtain of the Annual Security Report from the University’s Admissions Office. Prospective employees may obtain of the Annual Security Report from the University’s Human Resources Office. A copy of the Annual Security Report may be obtained from the lobby of the University’s Police Department on the Fredericksburg Campus at any time by the general public. A copy of the Annual Security Report is available on the Dahlgren Campus at the receptionist’s desk. A copy of the Annual Security Report is also available on the Stafford Campus at the receptionist’s desk in the South building. The UMW Police Department’s Annual Security Report is also viewable on their Internet web site located on the University’s Internet web page at the following link- https://www.umw.edu/police/2020-annual-security-report/
The University of Mary Washington Police Department operates on a 24-hour, 365 days a year basis to provide service and protection to students, faculty and staff, as well as the buildings and grounds of the University. The department consists of 16 sworn police officers as well as civilian support staff. UMW Police officers are certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and are empowered to enforce all federal, state and local laws as provided for under Virginia Code section 23.1-234. As certified law enforcement officers, the University’s Police officers have full authority to make criminal and traffic arrests.
The Police Department maintains an informative web site on the University’s web page located at:
PATROL
The jurisdiction of the UMW Police includes all University owned or controlled property to include public sidewalks and streets immediately adjacent, as well as the main campus, athletic fields, Facilities Services at the Battleground complex, Brompton Estate, the Jepson Alumni Executive Center, the Eagle Landing Apartments, The James Monroe Law Office – Museum and Memorial Library, James Monroe Presidential Center, Belmont Estate – The Gari Melchers Gallery, and the Stafford Campus. Because the University of Mary Washington does not recognize nor sponsor any off-campus student organizations, UMW Police do not respond as the primary agency to calls for service to off-campus student residences.
The UMW Police regularly patrols the streets, parking lots, grounds of the University. The Officers patrol via vehicles and on foot. Officers are required to make periodic foot patrols of the area around and inside buildings during each shift. In addition to increasing security, foot patrols also provide officers with an opportunity to enhance communications with the individuals who live and work at the University.
UMW Police are responsible for maintaining order and ensuring public safety during all campus events, such as athletic events, concerts, rallies, or visits from high ranking government officials, and on occasion play host to local schools utilizing the University’s facilities. The University Police Department also employs unarmed security personnel who are assigned to work special events and functions as needed. The security personnel do not have the authority to make arrests, but are a vital part of the UMW security team. They observe and report criminal and suspicious activity and provide an additional element of safety on campus.
The UMW Police Department strives at all times to help make the University community as safe and harmonious as possible. However, there are times when crimes occur and arrests must be made.
The UMW Police Department (UMWPD) maintains a close working relationship with the City of Fredericksburg Police Department (FPD) and the Virginia State Police. The UMWPD staff occasionally works with other law enforcement agencies, including the City of Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office, the Stafford County Sheriff’s office, the King George County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the National Park Police, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic beverage control Bureau of Law Enforcement and the Virginia DMV Law Enforcement Services Division.
Meetings are held between the leaders of these agencies on both a formal and informal basis. The Chiefs and command staff of the UMW Police Department and the Fredericksburg Police Department meet formally two times per year. The officers of the UMWPD and FPD communicate regularly on the scene of incidents that occur in and around the campus area. The UMWPD Police Investigators work closely with the investigative staff at FPD when incidents arise that require joint investigative efforts, resources, crime related reports and exchanges of information, as deemed necessary. There is a written MOU between the UMW Police Department and the Fredericksburg Police Department that addresses parking enforcement and mutual aid response, but not criminal investigations. There is a written MOU between the UMW Police Department and the Virginia State Police that addresses mutual aid and support. There is a written MOU between the UMW Police Department and the Virginia Department Alcoholic Beverage Control Bureau of Law Enforcement that addresses mutual aid and support. There is no written Memorandum of Understanding between the UMW Police Department and the King George County Sheriff’s office or the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigations
UMW Police conducts thorough criminal and traffic investigations with the latest training available to law enforcement personnel in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia State Police may be called to investigate certain crimes on campus at the request of the UMW Police Department, pursuant to their authority to respond to crime reports on property owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Missing Students
The UMW Police Department investigates all reports of missing students, regardless of the age of the student or the amount of time that the student has been missing. There is no minimum time requirement or waiting period to report a student missing.
UMW is in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act requirement that a student be able to select a confidential contact person in the event that the student is reported as missing. The confidential contact may be the student’s emergency contact, but the student may also select a different individual. The University may not disclose the missing person contact information to anyone except authorized campus authorities or law enforcement personnel involved in the investigation. A student electing to choose a confidential missing person contact can access the information through the student’s Banner home page.
If a student is under 18 years of age and is not emancipated, the university must notify the parents within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing. The missing person emergency contact person, if designated by the student to be different from a parent, will also be notified.
Crime Prevention
UMW Police officers provide educational programming, security surveys and other crime prevention functions to the University community upon request or as needed. Educational programs include Alcohol Awareness, Bicycle Registration, Drug Awareness, Operation ID, and Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.). R.A.D. is a self-defense course known as Rape Aggression Defense Systems, Inc.; a twelve-hour course in basic self-defense. The UMW Police Department has a certified R.A.D. instructor who conducts this course in three, four-hour blocks of instruction that include class room and practical applications. These blocks of practical instruction will involve the instructor wearing a realistic simulation suit to permit the student to experience a physical attack in a controlled environment, thus giving the student the opportunity to practice the self-defense techniques learned in this program.
R.A.D. Systems Inc. has a lifetime practice policy. Once a student completes the basic program, they may go to any R.A.D. Instructor in the United States and practice their skills as often as he or she wishes for free of cost.
Beginning with orientation sessions for incoming 1st Year Students and their parents, the Police Department provides safety programs throughout the year in the residence halls in conjunction with the University’s Office of Residence Life staff.
Keeping the University Community Informed
The UMW Police Department is very concerned about providing timely warnings and immediate notifications to the entire University community about potential threats to students or employees.
At times it may be necessary for “timely warnings” to be issued to the University community. If a crime occurs and notification is necessary to warn the University community of a potentially dangerous situation, the UMW Police Department will initiate the warning process. The Police Department will contact the Office of University Relations to prepare a release and the information will be disseminated to the local media. The police department may also send out “Crime Alert Message” via the University’s Emergency Alert Network to students, faculty and staff regarding crimes that are classified as serious incidents.
Any information which may qualify as a potential threat or emergency may be communicated to the following personnel: Any UMW police officer, the UMW Emergency Communications Center, or the Director of Safety and Emergency Management.
The UMW Police Department, The Office of Emergency Management, the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Vice President for Student Affairs and the Office of University Relations and Communications may provide input or assistance with issuing a timely warning or immediate notification.
UMW Emergency Action Notification System (EANS)
In the event of an emergency that requires the employees or student body be notified, the University will activate the UMW EANS. This is a multi-tiered approach utilizing a combination of Text Messaging, Area Warning (Speaker Array), E-Mail, Phones, and University website alerts.
An emergency alert will notify the campus community about the location and nature of the emergency and what procedures need to be taken.
UMW Alerts
UMW Alerts is a self-subscribed Emergency Alert System which can be sent to cell phones, E-Mail, SMS messaging devices, and landline telephones. This system is available to UMW employees, students, parents of students, local citizens, and alumni.
Registration for this program is made by accessing https://www.umw.edu/alerts/
Area Warning System (Speaker Array)
The area warning system consists of 9 Speaker Arrays on the Fredericksburg and Stafford campuses. This system, which employs both tones and spoken voice, is designed to be a warning system for those located outdoors when an emergency arises.
Sex Offender Registry
Publicly-available information about persons convicted within the Commonwealth of Virginia of specified violent and sexual offenses is provided by the Virginia State Police. The information is available at the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/policy.html?original_requestUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov%2Fsor%2FzipSearch.html&original_request_method=GET&original_request_parameters=
Operation Identification
The UMW Police Department has engravers to loan for the purposes of engraving personal property. This nationally recognized identification procedure is thought to help make items theft resistant, because engraved items are more easily identified making them harder to sell. Another benefit to the program is, if an item is lost or stolen, then recovered, it is much easier for the owner to be located and the property returned. The recommended procedure for engraving items is: abbreviate your state and driver’s license number on the item (Ex. VA123456789) with the engraving tool.
Fingerprinting Services
UMW Police provides fingerprinting services for UMW students, faculty, staff and their families at no cost, anytime when staffing permits based upon calls for service.
Safety Escort Service
The UMW Police Department sponsors a nighttime safety escort service on the Fredericksburg Campus which operates from dusk until dawn and provides transportation or a walking escort, upon request, to persons who must cross campus during the nighttime hours alone. The escort service may be contacted by calling 540-654-1025, 540-654-4444 from a cell phone, or by utilizing one of the campus emergency phones.
For those on the Stafford Campus, a walking escort may be requested of the on-duty UMW security officer.
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 Emergency Communications office, which dispatches for all University properties, is staffed 24 hours a day, year-round, and is available 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 the Fredericksburg Campus and will assist with calls from the Stafford Campus
The UMW Police Department encourages anyone who is the victim or witness to any crime to promptly and accurately report the incident to police when the victim elects to or is unable to make such a report. UMW Police will assist the reporting of crimes that occur off campus to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Because police reports are public records under state law, the UMW Police Department cannot hold reports of crime in confidence.
The University of Mary Washington has a voluntary anonymous reporting system for notifying the UMW Police Department of any crimes which may occur on campus. This program is called “Silent Witness.”. All crimes reported through the Silent Witness system are included in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. It is accessible by the following website link- http://www.umw.edu/police/reporting-a-crime/silent-witness-form/
Additionally, a crime may be reported by using the online Campus Crime Report Form. It is accessible at the following UMW website- http://www.umw.edu/police/reporting-a-crime/campus-crime-report-form/
The information for reporting both ongoing and past crimes and all calls for assistance to the UMW Police Department is listed below.
The UMW Police Department maintains two telephone numbers:
- For Police, Fire and Rescue emergency calls on the Fredericksburg Campus, dial “4444″. The University’s “4444″ 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 able to ascertain your location. Otherwise, follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
- For Police, Fire and Rescue emergency calls on the Stafford Campus, dial “911″. The “911″ call will place you in direct contact with the Stafford County Emergency Operations Center.
- For police non-emergency matters on any University property, dial 540-654-1025.
How to report an emergency on the Fredericksburg Campus, the James Monroe Museum and Law Library, Brompton, or the Gari Melchers Estate and Studio/Belmont:
University phone-
POLICE:
- Dial “4444“ from any on-campus telephone.
- Give the location of the incident.
- Describe what is happening or what you have observed.
- Give a description of the suspect(s).
- Give the suspects means and direction of travel.
- Stay on the phone and answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
- Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
RESCUE:
- Dial “4444“ from any on campus telephone.
- Give the nature of the injury or illness.
- Give the location where the first aid unit is needed.
- Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
- Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
FIRE:
- Dial “4444“ from any on campus telephone.
- Give the location of the fire or fire alarm.
- Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
- Exit the building.
Non-campus phones, including Cell Phone-
The Police Department’s emergency phone number is 540-654-4444. This number may be dialed from off-campus landline and cell phones. You are encouraged to pre-program this number into your cell phone.
How to report an emergency on the Stafford and Dahlgren Campuses.
From any phone, including University phones and cell phones –
POLICE:
- Dial “911″
- Give the location of the incident.
- Describe what is happening or what you have observed.
- Give a description of the suspect(s).
- Give the suspects means and direction of travel.
- Stay on the phone and answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
- Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
RESCUE:
- Dial “911″
- Give the nature of the injury or illness.
- Give the location where the first aid unit is needed.
- Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
- Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
FIRE:
- Dial “911″
- Give the location of the fire or fire alarm.
- Answer any questions the dispatcher may have.
- Exit the building.
RAVE Guardian
The UMW Police Department utilizes the RAVE Guardian safety app to receive reports of crimes. RAVE Guardian is an app that UMW students, faculty and staff may install on their cell phones.
Once activated, the app provides the user one-touch connection to UMW police or 911, displays the user’s GPS location and enables a text or digital image to be sent. The user also can set a safety timer to share with a selected group of friends or family members within his or her virtual safety network. For instance, before walking alone at night, a student could set the timer in order for the student’s trip to be monitored by GPS, Hall said. The timer will alert friends, family or emergency officials if the clock expires before the student has reached his or her destination.
To download the RAVE Guardian app, go to the Apple Store (iPhone users) or Google Play (Android users).
https://students.umw.edu/safety/umw-rave-guardian-system/
Making a Safe & Secure Campus
Fredericksburg Campus:
Campus Emergency Telephone System
The University currently has over 180 emergency telephones strategically placed across campus in all student parking lots, building elevators, on the interior campus walkways, at the Battlegrounds Complex area, along College Ave, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center, in all academic buildings on the Fredericksburg campus and in the parking areas and walkways of the Stafford campus. The exterior emergency telephones are mounted on posts with blue lights that are illuminated during the non-daylight hours.
To operate most of the emergency telephone stations, lift the receiver or depress the activation button until you hear a series of audible clicks. The automatic dialer is forwarding your call to the Police Communications Office located in Brent Hall. When your call is answered, please indicate your location and the nature of the emergency or assistance needed.
Building and Residence Hall Access and Security
Members of the Office of Residence Life staff and the Police Department have a close working relationship. An orientation session is held before each fall semester in August to acquaint new staff members with Police personnel and to review new and existing policies. Residence Life staff are given information on what may be expected in a given situation and what resources are available to them to resolve issues in the most efficient manner.
Regulations governing campus housing are administered through the Office of Residence Life. All guests entering the residence halls are required to register upon entry in the hall log book. The exterior doors of the residence halls are secured at all times unless a desk aide is on duty. Door alarms are posted on all other dorm exit doors and are monitored by the hall staff. Students and their guests are required to adhere to the regulations on building access to reduce the risk of compromising residence hall safety and security.
The administrative buildings at UMW are generally open to the public during business hours and for certain cultural or educational events. Academic buildings are open to access by the public for anyone having business with an academic department in that building or for certain cultural or educational events.
Campus Camera Monitoring System
The University currently has closed circuit cameras strategically placed across all three campuses. These cameras record daily activity. These cameras can also be remotely accessed by the UMW Emergency Communications System on the Fredericksburg campus.
Facility Safety
The UMW Police Department works closely with Facilities Services and the Office of Residence Life to maintain security in all University buildings. Security and safety hazards may be reported to the University Police at 540-654-1025.
The University’s employees in Facilities Services (540-654-1047,) Locksmith Shop (540-654-1643,) and Office of Emergency Management and Safety (540-654-2096) inspect campus facilities regularly, promptly making repairs affecting safety and security, and respond to reports of potential safety and security hazards, such as broken windows, doors and locks.
Lighting and Landscape
Parking lots, sidewalks, and all major walkways are lighted at night. The UMW Police personnel check these lights frequently. Any lights not functioning or operating improperly are reported to the police dispatcher and in turn to Facilities Services for repair. Any shrubbery or trees that are observed to be a security risk by creating dark spots, hiding places or obscuring overhead lighting are reported to the Grounds Department under Facilities Services for corrective action. If more practical, a priority work order is submitted to Facilities Services to make the necessary repairs during the next business day. A night-time safety walk is conducted annually to evaluate the environmental safety of the Fredericksburg campus. The walk is conducted with UMW students, faculty, and staff.
Personal Safety Tips
Safety and security don’t begin and end with the University Police. It takes the entire University community- students, faculty and staff to make our campus a safe and secure place to live, work, learn and sometimes play.
What can you do to help?
- Trust your instincts. If a place or situations doesn’t feel right, leave.
- Avoid working or studying alone in a building at night.
- Avoid shortcuts and isolated areas when walking after dark.
- Don’t leave your personal property lying around unattended.
- Carry a whistle for alerting others in the event of an emergency.
- Never prop exterior doors open.
- Keep your residence hall room locked when leaving, even for “just a minute” and when sleeping.
- Lock windows and close shades after dark.
- Never attach your name and address to keys.
- When traveling in your vehicle keep windows up and doors locked.
- Engrave your valuables.
- Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police immediately.
- If you have an ADA-identified disability which requires special equipment, be sure to identify yourself to the University’s administration so proper installation and maintenance of such equipment may be scheduled.