Division of Public Safety

The Division of Public Safety is responsible for responding to emergency situations, suspicious activity, crimes, security concerns, and parking and transportation issues.  Providing for a safe and secure university environment is the highest priority of the members of our police, security, emergency services, and parking and transportation departments. Our employees are available to work with you to maintain the high quality of life enjoyed here at Rutgers.

The executive director for public safety is responsible for public safety, security, fire safety, emergency medical services, and transportation services on the New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses. On the Newark and Camden campuses, the police chiefs report to the Office of the Provost while following policies, procedures, and administrative practices established by the executive director for public safety.

Members of the public safety staff patrol each campus and respond to emergencies and requests for assistance on a full-time basis, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rutgers public safety employees and all members of the university community make up the safety team.  As a team, everyone actively maintains a safe environment while carefully complying with all local, state, and university regulations.

Information regarding public safety at Rutgers is available from the campus police departments. Safety Matters details public safety statistics, services, and programs on each of Rutgers' regional campuses. 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 web sites:

Camden Campus: http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/~rupdcamd/index.htm
 856/225-6009

Newark Campus: http://newarkpolice.rutgers.edu
973/353-5581

New Brunswick/Piscataway Campus: http://publicsafety.rutgers.edu
732/932-8407

Rutgers University Police Department

The New Brunswick/Piscataway Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) is 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 police department employs 58 full-time armed police officers, 23 full-time security officers that monitor residence halls and enforce parking regulations, and over 100 part-time students that 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 nonemergency 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 one designated police officer to each of the five Rutgers campuses to manage the policing and security efforts for their specific community. 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 per year to be 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.  They maintain stationary security posts at University Center and by special arrangement.  In addition, the RUPD employs full-time students who are uniformed, unarmed trained employees who patrol on foot, bicycle, horseback, and 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

Security Technologies is led by an electrical engineer with more than 40 years experience in security technology applications.  His team of system technicians and locksmiths are responsible for the installation and service of access control systems, intrusion and panic alarm systems, CCTV cameras, and door hardware.  All technicians are factory trained and certified on all products we install.  Our systems are monitored by the 9-1-1 Communications Center that dispatches police, fire, or emergency medical response to all incidents.   

Emergency Management

The Emergency Management Unit constantly works to prepare the university to properly respond and address emergencies that threaten public safety.  These emergencies may include 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.

Even prior to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Public Safety Department began performing regular emergency management exercises and developed an emergency management team that included representatives from all areas of the university community.  Rutgers conducts emergency drills on a regular basis and works with our counterparts at the municipal, county, state, and federal levels.  Emergency procedures are under continual review, regularly updated and enhanced to ensure quick and effective response to all public safety emergencies.

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 and response. The department predominantly serves the New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses 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

Department of Transportation Services is committed to providing all members of the Rutgers-New Brunswick/Piscataway 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 bike paths, vehicle sharing, short-term vehicle rental, and public transportation services.