As we begin another semester,  I want to welcome both our new students, staff, and faculty and our returning community members to campus. With the first week of classes underway, and many challenges and opportunities ahead, I’d like to take this time to remind you that University Police Services is focused on preserving an environment where you can study and work safely. It is extremely important to us that our students, faculty, and staff feel supported and their voices heard.

 

University Police Services (UPD) serves the College of Southern Nevada, Desert Research Institute, Nevada State College, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A central tenet of our commitment to the campuses we serve, has been one of a cultural shift from traditional policing to a true community-oriented policing model which is based on transparency, accountability, empathy, responsiveness, and appropriate visibility. It is our mission to provide a safe and secure learning environment and we believe this can be achieved through our core values. We will display honor, courage, and respect in all our endeavors, as well as demonstrate passion and dedication by serving our community in a fair and ethical manner. 

 

You will see your officers patrolling campus on foot and in patrol vehicles – and I encourage you to stop and speak with them when you have the opportunity. To keep our community as safe as possible, we offer several proactive and anti-crime programs including, but not limited to, self-defense trainings, bicycle registration, and security escorts, which are accessible to all members of the campus community. We are available to provide specialized presentations and trainings upon request. UPD has continued to provide police services to our campuses throughout the pandemic, and we have worked hard to ensure continuity and offer virtual presentations available during this time. We look forward to hosting in-person events on campus and engaging with our community – so be sure to follow us on social media, @UPDSouth, for any updates and future events. 

 

Our department strives to constantly engage our community and improve safety on campus. UPD’s Public Safety Advisory Board, which consists of representative student leaders, classified employees, administrative faculty, and academic faculty from each of the institutions UPD serves, seeks to support a community-based public safety approach that fosters and enhances communication channels and relationships. Together, we are stronger. We encourage you to send in any comments, concerns, or suggestions on ways you think we can improve or reach out to your campus PSAB representatives.  

 

As partners, University Police Services stands ready to service the needs of our campus communities.  We will always operate with a high level of integrity and respect, and bring forward the best interest of all our institutions. We encourage you to practice “See Something, Say Something” as well as reporting any suspicious activity. UPD is available 24/7; via phone or through the UNLV RebelSAFE app, or refer back to our website for further information on how to file a police report or take advantage of our other services offered such as fingerprinting, notary, crime logs, and report copies. 

 

Now, please take a moment to save these emergency and non-emergency numbers to your cell phone and do not hesitate to contact us:

         UPD Emergency Dispatch: 702-895-3669 (available 24/7)

         UPD Non-Emergency: 702-895-3668 (available 24/7)

         UPD Information: 702-895-5575 (M-F, 8a-5p)

 

I look forward to seeing you all back on campus!

 

Adam Garcia

Vice President of Public Safety Services 

Director of University Police Services, Southern Command

702.895.2634

adam.garcia@unlv.edu