UTPD increases community policing efforts

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The University of Toledo Police Department received a state grant to support its efforts to increase community policing programs on campus.

UTPD is one of 20 law enforcement agencies in Ohio to receive up to $40,000 from the Office of Criminal Justice Service to support initiatives aimed at improving relationships between communities and the officers who serve them.

“Keeping students safe is the No. 1 priority for all of us here at The University of Toledo, and it is important that we all work together to ensure our campus remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone to study and work,” said Jeff Newton, UT police chief and director of public safety. “This additional state support will allow officers to expand the outreach we already do to engage students, faculty and staff about the safety resources available to them.”

The Office of Public Safety Day on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Varsity T Pavilion and nearby South Tennis Courts and South Basketball Courts is one opportunity to meet the police officers, security staff, and safety and health officials who serve campus. Students and other members of the UT community are invited to see the public safety vehicle fleet, eat pizza, and play basketball, tennis, corn hole and other games with the staff.

Additional community engagement events are scheduled throughout the academic year and include “Pizza with the Police” where students can ask officers safety questions. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 11, at noon in Carter Hall’s main lobby. UTPD is offering personal safety and self-defense classes during fall semester; one session will take place Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center Double Meeting Room.

The police department also provides ALICE training to the campus community. ALICE, which is an acronym that stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate, is a national program that instructs participants on how to survive an active shooter situation.

UTPD is increasing its social media outreach to engage with students in the platforms they use to communicate. Using videos and graphics, the department is sharing important public safety information on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Follow the police on Facebook at facebook.com/UToledoPD and on Twitter at @UToledoPD.

For more information about the UT Police Department and full schedule of the events, visit utoledo.edu/depts/police.