Community Policing & Crime Prevention

Community policing and crime prevention are key parts of the mission of the Department of Public Safety.

Community Policing

The UMass Dartmouth Department of Public Safety is committed to community policing, a philosophy that supports building partnerships, proactive problem solving and fostering positive community interactions with the goal of reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life for all students, faculty and staff. As members of the university community, university Police Officers are responsible for identifying, prioritizing and solving problems, issues and concerns.

The Department of Public Safety strives to maintain high-visibility foot patrols and mountain bike patrols to ensure positive community interactions.

Officers work closely with the Office of Residence Life and Housing to help foster a good relationship with its staff and the more than 4,400 resident students on campus. Members are available to make presentations to residence hall groups and to share printed material on crime prevention and safety.

In addition, the department offers two effective educational programs for students, which have received positive feedback both from students and university administrators:

Costly Decisions (Alcohol Education Program) This program was created at UMass Dartmouth for first-time "alcohol offenders" and focuses on attitudes about alcohol, the different levels of impairment due to intoxication, alcohol poisoning, courageous decision-making and operating under the influence. The program reinforces the legal ramifications to such behavior, while simultaneously providing facts that may aid students with their decision-making while attending the university and for the rest of their lives. For more information

SLAM Program (Students Learning A Message) Aimed at students who are at risk of losing on-campus housing privileges due to violations of university policies or state law, this program gives students a first-hand glimpse of the harsh reality of life in prison. Accompanied by a UMass Police Officer and members of the Bristol County Sheriff's Office, students pass through metal detectors and other security systems for a tour of the Bristol County House of Correction. Once inside, students learn about the rules, regulations and inmate living conditions. The tour ends with a frank presentation from inmates about poor decision-making, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, etc. Each program includes approximately 10 UMass Dartmouth students. For more information

Links to more information for college students about alcohol and drug awareness

Crime Prevention

The goals and objectives of the Department of Public Safety's crime prevention programs are to maintain public awareness of crime on campus, provide preventive safety measures regarding both personal safety and property, proactively review lighting and brush issues on campus and to research new methods to reduce crime and the fear of crime on campus.

An important element in crime prevention is educating members of the campus community on how to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of personal or property crime. For this reason, the department has a certified Crime Prevention Officer/Coordinator dedicated full-time to many Crime Prevention Programs.

For more information, contact Crime Prevention Officer Steven Mello: x8770, 508-999-8770 or smello@umassd.edu