For Your Safety

The following programs and services are offered by the University of Miami Police Department for your safety and security.  For more information or to schedule a program, please call the UM Police Crime Prevention Office at 305-284-1105.

1. Abandoned Bicycle Confiscation Program

UMPD enforces an abandoned bicycle confiscation policy, which essentially states that if you leave your bicycle locked on campus for several months without using it, UM Police will tag your bicycle with a notice. The notice says you have 20 days to contact UM Police, or your bicycle will be confiscated. If your bicycle is confiscated, a picture of it will be posted on the UM Police website and you will have 90 days to claim it. If you do not claim it in 90 days, it become property of the University and is usually donated to a charity.

2. Alcohol Awareness Program

A presentation based program that discusses alcohol use, abuse and general safety.

3. Anti-Theft Device Program

Laptop computer cable locks and “the Club” steering wheel locks are sold by UMPD for a discounted price.

4. Anti-Theft Program (General)

Police regularly patrol campus in uniform and plain clothes looking for thieves. Sting operations are conducted regularly that involve the use of decoy, police owned property. In addition, police personnel regularly “tag” unattended and unsecured property (laptops, cell phones, bicycles, etc.) with various warning notices and brochures on theft prevention. Use of locks in general is promoted through presentations and advertising.

5. Bicycle Lock & Registration Program

Free U-style bicycle locks and registrations are provided to all bicycle owners by UMPD.

6. Blue Light Phone System

107 Blue Light Telephones are strategically located throughout the Coral Gables campus.  Phones can be used to directly contact UM Police during emergencies and to request services. Every single phone in the system is inspected bi-monthly to assure functionality.

7. Brochure Program

UMPD distributes over 30 different brochures related to safety and crime prevention. Many of these brochures were created by UMPD and are specific to the University of Miami.

8. Campus Maintenance Program

UMPD regularly inspects campus for any safety issues (overgrown vegetation, safety hazards, etc.). Students, faculty and staff should report all safety concerns immediately.

9. Canes Emergency Response Team (CERT) Partnership

UMPD is an active partner with the Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership who runs the Canes Emergency Response Team (CERT).

10. ‘Canes Resource Officer Program

A new initiative that is aimed at promoting both formal and informal interaction between UM Police Officers and the University community, particularly students. The program assigns one UM Police Officer to one section of campus. That assigned officer is responsible for conducting proactive crime prevention initiatives and being highly visible in his or her section. Initiatives can range from informal discussions with students, to presentations, to contacting victims of crimes, to sting operations aimed at catching thieves in the act.

11. Closed Door – Open Floor: Question and Answer Session with UM Police

Gives students the opportunity to ask Police Officers questions about anything Police related.

12. Commuter Watch Program

A two part program. It involves encouraging commuter students to take an active role in theft prevention, vigilance and personal safety through various presentations and advertising.  It also involves police regularly focusing proactive patrol efforts and sting operations in parking lots and other areas heavily used by commuter students.

13. Crime Alert Program/ Emergency Notification Network (ENN)

In the event of any serious crime, students are notified of what happened, where it happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent themselves from being victimized by email, poster and website. If there is an ongoing critical threat to the life safety of everyone on campus, the ENN will be activated which will send information to the entire community by voice message, text message, email, public address systems, sirens and any other means available. The level of notification is determined by the level of threat to life safety.

14. Crime Summary Program

University administration and department heads are regularly informed of all police related incidents that occurred within specific areas on campus.

15. Crocodile Safety Program

The University has one or more crocodiles living in Lake Osceola at any given time.  Although no crocodile living in Florida has ever attached a human, UMPD promotes safety around these wild animals through programming, advertising and brochure distribution.

16. Custom Presentation Programs

The Crime Prevention Office will create a custom presentation on ANY crime prevention/ safety/ police related topic for any interested group.

17. Custom Hands-On Programs

UMPD will make every attempt to conduct all specialty programs requested. Often times, these programs will take more than 2 weeks to plan as approval from Risk Management and General Counsel may be necessary.

18. General University Safety and Security Program

A presentation that offers an overview of campus safety and most programs/ services offered by UMPD.

19. Good Behavior Reward Card Distribution Program

The initiative involves UM Police Officers stopping and rewarding members of the University community for “good behavior” with $5 gift cards to any Chartwells establishment on campus. “Good behavior” is constituted by following University rules, obeying laws, making good decisions and otherwise taking actions that set a good example and assist police.

20. Ibisnews/ Hurricane Online Safety Tips

Safety tips are put in Ibisnews and the Miami Hurricane Newspaper Online every week throughout the fall and spring semesters.

21. Identity Theft Awareness and Prevention Program

Presents students with information on preventing and dealing with one of the most widespread crimes in America.

22. Interviews

UMPD will make every effort to accommodate any interview request (on or off camera/ microphone) by any member of the University community or media. Requests must be first approved by University Communications.

23. Laptop Larceny Program

The use of laptop locks and laptop “LoJack” systems is heavily promoted through advertising. Free laptop locks and “LoJack” systems are given away, free of charge to students, on a limited basis.

24. Library Alert Program

UMPD seeks to maintain an open relationship with all libraries on campus as much unattended and unsecured property theft occurs within these locations. Many libraries have remote literature distribution points inside that offer a wealth of printed information from the department. During exam periods, when libraries experience an increase in patronage, UMPD offers crime prevention advertisements such as posters and brochures to heighten awareness.

25. Lighting Check/ Tour Program

UMPD personnel regularly examining lighting on campus to assure all light fixtures are functioning properly. UMPD also participates in the “lighting tour” program run by the Dean of Students during the fall and spring semesters.

26. Lunch with the Chief of Police Program

In an effort to keep in immediate touch with the University community, Chief Rivero regularly meets with students, 1 on 1, for lunch; Chief’s treat. The only catch is that students need to have one suggestion for how the UM Police Department can improve its policing, crime prevention initiatives, activities, services, programs or any other facet of the department.

27. New/ Transfer Student Orientation Program

Addresses on and off campus personal safety issues, considerations and tips.

28. Office Crime Watch

Develops a greater relationship between UMPD and departments on campus, by demonstrating how much power each department on campus has to preventing crime in their own area.

29. Online Traffic School Program

UMPD has formed a partnership with the Florida Safety Council to allow the community to take state approved traffic school courses through the UMPD website.

30. Operation Clean Sweep

A program specifically designed for UNICCO that assures timely communication with police, and utilizes all UNICCO personnel as crime prevention assistants by encouraging the reporting of suspicious activity and crimes in progress.

31. Operation ID/ DataDots

UMPD will engrave or otherwise mark a community member’s property to discourage theft and aid in recovery in the event the property is stolen.

32. Pedestrian Safety Campaign (‘Canes Crossroads)

General advertising and programming that promotes the importance of pedestrian safety in a major urban area; brochures and posters are available for disbursement. This program was begun in response to community members being struck by vehicles.

33. Personal Safety Program

A non-self defense based presentation on personal safety. It is in a lecture, non-practical format.

34. Promotional “Safety” Items

A multitude of promotional items such as pens, clips, backpacks, and other useful items with safety reminders printed on them or incorporated into the overall product design are distributed regularly to the community during tabling initiatives, presentations, events and other outreach efforts.

35. R.A.D. Program (Rape Aggression Defense)

A 12 hour (WOMEN ONLY) self-defense class broken up over several days. It focuses on awareness, risk reduction, and practical physical techniques. The program is taught by RAD certified instructors several times throughout the semester. There is a nominal $25 per student fee associated with this program to cover the cost of copyrighted publications distributed. There is a lifetime return and practice policy.

36. Safe Date Program

A presentation based program that discusses personal safety from a women’s point of view.

37. Safety Escort Services

UM Police personnel will escort any community member from any location on campus to any location on campus, 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year.

38. Safety Matters Brochure

UMPD is responsible for publishing the annual Safety Matters Brochure for the University which lists all crime statistics and safety programs in accordance with federal laws.

39. Safety Tip (weekly) Email Listserv

Anyone affiliated or not affiliated with the University may sign up to receive weekly safety tip emails.

40. S.A.F.E. Program (Self-defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange)

A 1 to 2 hour (WOMEN ONLY) self-defense class that focuses on awareness, risk reduction, and practical physical techniques. The program is taught by SAFE certified instructors several times throughout the semester. There is a nominal $5 per student fee associated with this program to cover the cost of copyrighted publications distributed. There is a lifetime return and practice policy.

41. Security Survey Program

A certified Crime Prevention Practitioner will conduct a security survey for any department head on campus that requests one.

42. Sexual Assault Team Education/ Prevention Program

A presentation offered through the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Peer Education Group.

43. Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Partnership

UMPD is an active partner with the Counseling Center who runs the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

44. Speakers Bureau

UMPD maintains a list of police and security related professionals willing to conduct presentations for any requesting group.

45. Stalking/ Online Community (Facebook/ MySpace) Safety Program

Discussion on the prevalence of stalking on college campuses and how to protect oneself.

46. Student Crime Watch

Develops a greater relationship between UMPD and groups of students on campus, by demonstrating how much power each student on campus has to preventing crime.

47. Tabling Initiatives

Tables are regularly set up around campus to distribute safety publications and speak to students on crime prevention. Tabling often throughout the campus creates a greater sense of police presence and promotes more safety information to the community.

48. Victim Advocacy

Program includes, but is not limited to, assisting victims of crime in any reasonable capacity to make them whole and distributing information and resource referrals related to victim’s services.

49. Video Program

UMPD has a significant safety video library that includes departmental videos made specifically for the University of Miami. These video’s are shown during presentations and can be checked out by interested community members. The official UMPD campus safety video is accessible through the UMPD website. A list of other videos is available through the Crime Prevention Office.

50. Website

The website is maintained regularly to serve as a source for further crime prevention information.