University Safety and Security

Administration and Public Safety

The Division of Administration and Public Safety (APS) is committed to further improving the quality of safety on campus while providing administrative and business support services to multiple departments. The goal of every member of our organization is to provide for a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling university experience. The APS departments are responsible for responding to all emergencies, suspicious activities, crimes, safety concerns, and parking and transportation challenges. Members of APS also provide centralized waste management, surplus collection and material storage, access to Rutgers' own four-star, 18-hole golf course, bookstore retail services, delivery of mail, and document creation and printing services. It is through our partnerships with all groups within the university community that we are able to reach our goals.

Rutgers takes public safety very seriously and is committed to ensuring a safe environment for everyone on all of its campuses. Because Rutgers' three regional campuses are at a significant geographic distance from one another, each maintains a fully staffed police headquarters, and emergency contact information varies by location. Safety Matters details public safety statistics, services, and programs on each of Rutgers' regional campuses. The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires Rutgers to issue a statement advising the campus community where information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. This information is available in Safety Matters or by visiting http://www.nj.gov/njsp/info/reg_sexoffend.html. To have a printed copy of Safety Matters mailed to you free of charge, please contact the appropriate Rutgers University Police Department office at one of the following numbers, or view the online version at any of the following websites:

Camden Campus: http://rupd.camden.rutgers.edu/Safety_Matters.pdf
856-225-6009

Newark Campus: http://nwkpolice.rutgers.edu/RUPD_Safety.html
(crime statistics are available at http://nwkpolice.rutgers.edu/stats.html)
973-353-5547

New Brunswick Campus: http://publicsafety.rutgers.edu/rupd/SAFETY_MATTERS_08-09.pdf
732-932-8407


University Safety and Security

Rutgers University Police Department

On all campuses, the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to provide the university community with a full range of police and security services. The departments are committed to building active partnerships with the community and creating innovative policing programs to prevent crime and enhance the quality of life for all students, employees, and visitors.

The New Brunswick Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) employs 58 full-time armed police officers, 21 security officers that monitor residence halls and enforce parking regulations, and nearly 100 part-time students who provide a wide range of policing and security functions to supplement the RUPD mission.

The university police department is located at 55 Commercial Avenue in the heart of the New Brunswick Campus. To contact the RUPD to report emergencies (police, fire, and emergency medical), dial 911; from university Centrex telephones, obtain an outside line and dial 911. For non-emergency telephone calls to the police, dial 732-932-7211; from university Centrex telephones, dial 2-7211. You also can contact the police by using any of the blue light emergency telephone boxes on the campuses.

RUPD has assigned specially trained police officers to the campuses to liaison with students and student groups as well as student life and other university departments. The Community Policing Officers have completed advanced training in many programs such as security design, communication effectiveness, and enhancing community involvement to support RUPD policing operations.

Security Officers are uniformed, unarmed staff that patrol the campuses 365 days a year as additional eyes and ears for the RUPD. All Security Officers receive more than 40 hours of formal training through the New Jersey College & University Public Safety Association. They also provide parking enforcement for university lots and security details for special events.

In addition, the RUPD employs Community Service Officers who are uniformed, unarmed students trained to patrol on foot, bicycle, horseback, and in specially marked security vehicles. They perform package checks at athletic and special events, operate the Knight Mover Shuttle, provide after-hours escorts, and patrol parking lots. They are the eyes and ears of the community, notifying police of suspicious persons or activities.

Security Technologies

The Security Technologies Group is responsible for the installation and service of access control systems, intrusion and panic alarm systems, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and door hardware throughout the university. All technicians are factory trained and certified on all products we install.

Access control systems that require students, faculty, staff, and visitors to swipe identification cards to gain access into university facilities have been put in place at various locations. It is important to remember that these state-of-the-art technologies are utilized for your safety and you can help support these practices by not circumventing existing systems or allowing others to do so.

In 2007, the Cameras for Safety project was initiated and will continue to add to the 1,400 cameras already installed throughout the university. These cameras are intended to prevent, detect, and record events that violate university regulations and municipal, state, or federal laws.

Emergency Management

The Emergency Management Unit constantly works to prepare the university to properly respond to and address emergencies that threaten public safety. These emergencies may include, but are not limited to, severe weather conditions, major power failures, fires and explosions, transportation accidents, other accidents involving mass casualties, release of hazardous materials, violent crimes, civil disorder, bomb threats, public health emergencies, acts of terrorism, and other unforeseeable events that could pose a significant threat to the university community.

Rutgers collaborates with neighboring police departments, local governments, the state of New Jersey, and the National Guard to regularly conduct exercises designed to better prepare the university for any kind of emergency or disaster. Based on lessons learned from these drills and from experiences at other universities nationwide, Rutgers' emergency operational plans are constantly reviewed and updated.

The university's emergency notification system uses many different and overlapping mechanisms to provide time-critical information to the Rutgers community, as no single mechanism is sufficient to provide blanket notification. Methods include email, website announcements, TV, radio, and text messaging to cell phones, as well as low-tech mass communications such as electronic signs, bullhorns, and police car speaker systems. As with all emergency planning, our notification systems are regularly tested and upgraded. To update your personal emergency notification information, go to https://personalinfo.rutgers.edu.

Emergency Services

The Department of Emergency Services is dedicated to enhancing the safety and quality of life for the university community as well as the surrounding areas. They provide emergency response, emergency medical services, public safety education, and fire prevention services. The department predominantly serves the New Brunswick Campus; however, many services are provided to all university properties statewide.

Fire safety is a major component of our total safety and security program. State-certified fire inspectors provide fire safety awareness training sessions in the residence halls and conduct emergency evacuation drills to familiarize occupants with emergency procedures. Emergency Services personnel regularly inspect all university buildings and facilities, conduct alarm tests and fire drills, and enforce the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. As a state-licensed ambulance service, Emergency Services provides emergency medical care to the university community. The staff of New Jersey-certified emergency medical technicians responds to emergency medical calls and provides standby services at major university events.

Department of Transportation Services

The Department of Transportation Services is committed to providing all members of the Rutgers-New Brunswick Campus with the best possible solutions for getting around campus safely and easily.

The university maintains various parking facilities including permit-controlled lots and decks, metered parking spaces, access-controlled lots, and restricted assigned lots.

Transportation to, from, and on campus includes campus bus and shuttle services, walking and bicycle paths, and public transit services.