Students and employees are cautioned never to attempt to apprehend or pursue a suspected criminal. Crimes or suspected criminals should be reported to the DPS dispatcher or, if appropriate, to 911. Immediately report any crimes or suspicious activity to DPS by:
- Calling (202) 319-5111
- Picking up any of the emergency or access telephones
- Stopping by DPS headquarters located in Leahy Hall
- Stopping any uniformed campus police officer
If you have any doubts about whether to report something that has occurred, report it. Victims of or witnesses to crimes may disclose them on a voluntary, confidential basis to the Office of the Dean of Students or the Department of Public Safety, which can then determine whether the event constitutes a crime that has to be collected and statistically reported. Your cooperation in timely reporting assists the university to issue equally timely warnings to the campus community. All crimes must be reported immediately.
Always use your eyes, ears, and telephone to keep DPS advised of what you see and hear. Call the campus police when you see:
- Strangers loitering in office areas or residence halls
- Unsecured doors or windows in residence halls or academic buildings that are supposed to be locked
- Anyone tampering with a motor vehicle or loitering in a parking lot
- Persons publicly displaying a weapon
- Persons loitering in dark or secluded areas
- Suspicious persons carrying articles, appliances, luggage, or other packages out of residence halls or academic buildings