University Police
Message from the Chief
On Behalf of the Police Department, welcome to UMassD! The start of a new school year is an exciting time for the team at the UMass Dartmouth Police Department. We look forward to supporting our students on their journey to success. We are here to help around-the-clock and we look forward building partnerships to prevent crime, solve problems, and take proactive steps to make our campus as safe as possible.
Being a part of the Corsair community is at the heart of the mission of UMDPD. Our officers choose to work here because of the unique nature of a university as diverse as UMass Dartmouth. Opportunities to engage with UMDPD include Coffee with the Cops, Operation ID, Mario Cart, Mocktails Drug & Alcohol Awareness, Safety Programs, RAD Program, Men Helping Men Find a Solution, among other fun activities. The newest program is Chattin’ with the Chief, an opportunity to have lunch with the chief and bring up any topic for conversation.
Safety on campus is key to cultivating an enriching, vibrant and diverse learning community at UMass Dartmouth, and UMDPD is a committed partner in promoting safety through community engagement, round-the-clock patrol, emergency response, and training opportunities for students, faculty and staff.
Chances are, students will see UMass Dartmouth Police Officers or the Chief on campus in their daily routine. This is a good time to say hello, get acquainted and ask any questions about the university. Many of our officers started out as students at UMass Dartmouth and loved this place so much that they became officers. The team is focused on protecting the Corsair community and responding to any calls that may arise during the day or night. UMDPD is always here.
All police officers attend municipal police academy training and have full police authority on university property and at our satellite campuses. The Department staff consists of civilian communications dispatchers, sworn patrol officers, sergeants, and lieutenants. Police Officers are trained in crime prevention, sexual assault investigations, bicycle patrol, drug recognition, anti-bias policing, firearms proficiency, and more. Officers are certified in CPR, AED (automated external defibrillator), and first aid (including Narcan).
Students can count on UMass Dartmouth Police for resources, tips, and ideas for staying safe. We encourage students to sign up and also add family member email addresses to UMassD Alert, an important emergency notification system at the university. I encourage students and parents to stop by and say hello, we are happy to answer your questions, and listen to your comments, concerns and suggestions.
John Souza
Chief of Police