WHO WE ARE

Rice University is authorized by the State of Texas to operate its own police department.  Thirty licensed and commissioned police officers and seven security specialists, as well as sixteen other civilian support staff comprise the Rice University police department.  Police officers are on duty on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Rice police officers have the authority to arrest individuals who violate the law.  Rice University police officers may also issue Class C misdemeanor criminal citations and traffic citations for violations the traffic laws.

All licensed police officers are trained at state-approved police academies and have the same police powers within their jurisdiction as any other police officer in Texas.  Rice University police officers have the obligation to enforce the laws of the state.  In addition to state required training, all Rice University police officers receive training in basic crime prevention, crisis intervention, dignitary protection, tactical response to active shooters, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use.

The University recruits officers with a variety of police experience and training to provide a diversified, professional department that can meet the unique needs of the Rice University campus. Each complaint to the university police is investigated and, if the complainant requests, is submitted to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for review.  The district attorney’s office is responsible for filing the proper criminal charge.

The Rice University police department has developed rapport and works closely with other local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.  To formalize this collaborative relationship with the City of Houston Police Department, the Rice University Police Department and the Houston Police Department established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that coordinates law enforcement efforts between the two departments.  This MOU specifies responsibilities and cooperation in investigations, patrol operations, jurisdictions, tactical operations and statistical data exchange.

The police department patrols University property 24 hours a day.  Police officers and security specialists wear easily identifiable uniforms, whether on vehicle patrol, bicycle patrol or when working on foot in the residential colleges.  The police department operates marked patrol vehicles and responds to all campus emergencies.  For further information about the Rice University Police Department visit http://rupd.rice.edu .

 

What we do

The Rice University Police Department takes the lead in providing a safer environment for the university community by protecting persons and property. To achieve this protection, RUPD maintains patrols to deter and detect crime, to report fires and safety hazards, and to control traffic flow on campus. The department coordinates emergency response to the campus by outside agencies, such as ambulance and fire service.

The police department also is responsible for investigating crimes on campus. To ensure the security of the campus, it is important that members of the community promptly report all crimes and emergencies — including personal injuries, fire and traffic accidents — to RUPD. If requested by the complainant, RUPD will either assist in filing charges with the district attorney or describe other options for handling the matter.

When RUPD is informed of a serious crime on campus or in the campus vicinity, a crimealert bulletin is distributed throughout the community. Also, crime logs are printed in the student newspaper, the Rice Thresher, and are available on the RUPD website at http://rupd. rice.edu/safety.cfm and at the police department.

RUPD also handles requests for service, such as escorting, assisting with starting cars, and unlocking building and room doors. These requests will be handled as promptly as possible but will be prioritized.

In all functions, members of the police department have a public relations role in rendering information and assistance to faculty, staff, students and visitors.

Goal

The goal of the Rice University Police Department is to promote a safe environment and thereby protect the lives and property of the university’s faculty, staff, students and visitors. Toward this goal, departmental services are organized and implemented in a way that maintains the dignity of those served. The police department is charged with the following
responsibilities:

• Protecting the constitutional rights of members of the community.
• Enforcing local and state laws.
• Identifying and eliminating safety hazards and opportunities for crime.
• Establishing effective crime prevention programs to educate the institutional community
  on protecting lives and property.
• Maintaining protective patrols to deter and detect crime, to detect fire and safety hazards,
  and to prevent traffic congestion and accidents.
  
  
  

The people we serve

Rice University enrolls approximately 3,529 undergraduate students and 2,350 graduate students and employs 1,073 faculty and 2,152 staff. Approximately 2,716 students live on Rice’s 285-acre campus.

The university has a substantial library; a continuing studies program; frequent public concerts; theater productions; athletic events; and an ongoing program of public lectures, symposia and scholarly gatherings. These activities bring more than 1 million visitors to campus annually. During a year’s time, Rice’s police department answers approximately 16,850 calls for service and police response, with about 581 calls resulting in police action.

Where to find us

The Rice University Police Department is as near as any of the blue-light emergency phones. Emergency phones are located throughout the campus, in the elevators of campus buildings, at the entrances of residential colleges and at the south entrance of the Graduate Apartments.

The campus police office is just inside Entrance 8, where Stockton Street meets University Boulevard. The dispatch/reception office is open and a supervisor is available 24 hours a day. Most administrative services are available during normal business hours. Other supervisory and administrative staff are on 24-hour response. RUPD’s phone number is ext. 6000 on campus or 713-348-6000 off campus.