| Urgent: 617-495-1212 (Longwood 617-432-1212)
| Business: 617-495-1215 |
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About HUPD
The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is responsible for the safety and
security of more than 19,000 students, 14,000 faculty and staff members, and 500
buildings in an open and accessible environment. The HUPD is a full-service police
department (comprising a Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, and
Dignitary Protection Unit) that includes police officers, detectives, civilian
communication dispatchers, and support and administrative personnel. The police
officers are sworn special State Police officers with deputy sheriff powers.
"The River Team brought to our attention a quality of life issue in our house that they had been responding to. In partnership with Officer Davenport our tutors and staff worked to address the problem. As a result of our joint effort we were able to dramatically reduce it, improving the quality of residential life for our students."
Dr. Judith Flynn Chapman—Quincy House Resident Dean
The mission of the HUPD is to maintain the safety and security of all students,
faculty, staff, and visitors of the University. To fulfill this mission, the Department
has adopted a community-oriented problem-solving (COPS) philosophy. The core components
of the philosophy are prevention, partnerships, and problem solving. HUPD officers are
problem solvers, as well as law enforcers, who work in partnership with the community
to address and solve problems. Through these partnerships and collaborative problem
solving, officers deal with problems, prevent crime, and help maintain a community free
of disorder. The Department often works in conjunction with other agencies, including the
Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, Cambridge Police, Somerville Police, and many
federal agencies.
Partnerships are the foundation of effective problem solving and crime prevention. To
help build, maintain, and strengthen these partnerships within the University community,
the Department is divided into six geographically-based teams (Yard, North Yard, Radcliffe,
Allston, River, and Longwood). Because they have small areas of responsibility,
officers have the ability to build relationships with the community and become familiar with
problems specific to that area through increased communication and interactions.
"I have worked together with Sgt. Kevin Bryant and his Radcliffe Team on anti-crime measures at the Kennedy School of Government. Usually after a theft occurs at KSG I will call Kevin to request that directed patrols of both uniformed and plainclothes officers in the buildings will occur. The HUPD officers work closely with our KSG security guards. This working relationship has been proven effective in both preventing additional thefts as well as apprehending suspects."
Brian Conroy—Security Manager, Kennedy School of Government
Some core functions of the Department are: responding to criminal incidents; checking on the
well-being of students, faculty, and staff; responding to disturbances; providing escorts;
taking reports of lost and stolen property; responding to lockouts; investigating suspicious
activity; responding to alarms; and investigating trespassers or unwanted guests. In addition
to these activities, officers present safety and security information at community meetings,
make presentations at student and new employee orientations, teach self-defense classes, register
laptops and bicycles, and initiate informal contact with students, faculty, and staff while
patrolling on foot, bicycles, and motorcycles, and while eating in the dining halls. HUPD officers
are approachable and committed to keeping the Harvard community safe and secure.
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