Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GW campus safe?
The University is located in one of the safest areas in the city, but no campus is free from crime. We recommend that all members of the community take reasonable precautions. The University Police Department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers many services to make the campus a safe environment. These services include blue-light emergency phones, panic buttons, Escort and Shuttle services, emergency phones in residence halls, bike registration, and Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) self-defense classes for women.

 How do I protect myself while on campus?

• Report all suspicious activity to UPD immediately.
• Never take personal safety for granted.
• Try to avoid walking alone at night. Use the UPD Escort or   Colonial Express shuttle bus service when you must travel around campus at night.
• Limit your alcohol consumption, and leave social functions that get too loud, too crowded, or that have too many people drinking excessively. Remember to call UPD or the Metropolitan Police Department for help at the first sign of trouble.
• Carry only small amounts of cash.
• Never leave valuables (wallets, purses, books, calculators, laptops, backpacks, etc) unattended.
• Carry your GWorld card at all times, and do not lend it to anyone.
• Lock up bicycles and motorcycles. Lock car doors and close windows when leaving your car.
• Do not leave valuables in your car or in full view.
• Always lock and deadbolt the door to your residence hall room when sleeping; lock your room, especially when you are not there; keep windows closed and locked when you are not at home. Remember to take your keys!
• Engrave serial numbers or owner's recognizable numbers or markings, such as a driver's license number, on all items of value.
• Never allow people you don't know to tail gate, or follow you into your residence hall.

Well-meaning programs and services cannot completely eliminate the negligent or irresponsible acts of careless individuals. The best that we can do is minimize the possibilities.

Safety is a shared responsibility.
Members of the University community must assume responsibility for their own personal safety and the security of their personal property.

What kind of Crime Prevention Programming does UPD have in place?

The George Washington University Police Department provides a range of services to bolster Crime Prevention in the GW community on a regular basis. These services range from information and training to emergency and safety services. Some examples of these services include Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes, Operation ID and bike registration services, Campus Watch, the Adopt-an-Officer program where officers are assigned as a UPD liaison for specific residence halls, and the Escort and Shuttle services. The best way to utilize all the services that UPD provides is to familiarize yourself with them!

What is the most prevalent crime on campus?

Property crimes are the most prevalent crimes, with an average of 500-600 thefts reported to UPD annually. We cannot stress enough that members of this community must take responsibility for the security of their personal property. To assist in this effort, we suggest taking precautions such as reporting all suspicious activity to UPD immediately, carrying only small amounts of cash, never leaving valuables unattended, not lending keys to anyone, locking doors and windows to home or vehicles when leaving, not leaving valuables in plain view in vehicles, and taking advantage of our Operation Identification Program.

What about personal crimes of violence?

There is a low incidence of crimes against persons at GW; however, we must stress the importance of taking reasonable precautions for personal safety. A few tips:

• Never take personal safety for granted. Use the UPD Escort Service (also known as 4-RIDE: dial 4-RIDE (4-7433) for service) instead of walking alone on campus at night.
• Limit your alcohol consumption, and leave social functions that get too loud, too crowded, or that have too many people drinking excessively.
• Remember to call UPD at the first sign of trouble!

How can I report Criminal & Public Safety related incidents?
Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests should report all criminal and public safety related incidents directly to UPD on extension 4-6111(Foggy Bottom) or 2-6111 (Mount Vernon), or from outside the University phone system at 202-994-6111 or 202-242-6111. Dispatchers answer telephone calls 24 hours a day. Free on campus telephones are located in lobbies and corridors of many campus buildings, and incidents may be reported anonymously by calling 202-994-TIPS. The TIPS line allows people to anonymously report security and safety related concerns and to provide UPD with "tips" about criminal incidents or behavior on campus.

How do I report a serious incident?

You should immediately call 994-6111, which is the emergency number for UPD. An officer will take a statement from you regarding the incident, including what transpired, a description of subjects (if applicable), witnesses, and anything relevant concerning the crime scene. When you file a report, you are not obligated to continue with legal proceedings. Remember, you can choose whether or not to participate in proceedings at any point. We do recommend reporting incidents to help prevent further victimization, to apprehend the assailant, and to seek justice for the wrong that has been done to you. As stated above, incidents may also be reported anonymously by calling 994-TIPS.

What happens when I file a report with a UPD officer?

All UPD reports are investigated by UPD and forwarded to the Dean of Students Office for review and potential action by the Office of Student Judicial Services. If assistance is necessary from the Metropolitan Police Department or the District of Columbia Fire Department, UPD will contact the appropriate department.

How does UPD report crime?

The George Washington University Police Department works hard to provide members of the GW community with the information they need to help make their campus safe. As part of this commitment, and in compliance with a federal law known as the Clery Act, GW sends a notice about the availability of UPD's annual crime report called Pride in Protection and Service to all registered students and employees. The compliance document is also provided to prospective students and employees upon request. This information can be found on our Web site. You may also call 202-994-6948 to have a copy mailed to you, or you can stop by UPD and pick up a copy (Woodhull House, 2033 G Street, NW).

Can UPD officers make arrests?

Yes. GW University Police Officers are commissioned by the District of Columbia government and have the authority to make arrests on GW-owned, leased, or controlled property.

What kind of training do UPD officers receive?

UPD employs a Training Coordinator who is responsible for conducting intensive and on-going training for all campus police officers. Training includes guest lecturers from the Metropolitan Police Department and other outside agencies. They receive extensive training at a 251-hour Campus Public Safety Institute sponsored by the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. UPD officers must successfully complete in-service training sessions, which include subjects such as criminal law, civil law, public relations, critical incident response, diversity, interpersonal communication, crisis intervention, and all facets of protection of persons and property.

What should I do when I encounter homeless people?

When students encounter homeless people on or near campus property, they should immediately notify the University Police Department. Students should be aware that it is unlawful for people not affiliated with the University to be within its private buildings. Students should NOT engage in any physical or verbal altercation with or touch the homeless person. Upon UPD arrival, the person will be removed from the area, and if he or she becomes disorderly an arrest will be made.

If students encounter homeless people on the public street who do not appear to be a threat, they should just leave them alone. If the student becomes fearful for his or her safety, they should leave the area and contact UPD (if on campus) or the local law enforcement agency (if off campus). Keep in mind that panhandling is not illegal in DC unless the panhandler impedes your ability to continue walking or is "aggressively" panhandling.

• EMeRG is a recognized basic life support, first responder agency within the District of Columbia. Members, who are volunteers, provide quality emergency medical services in a variety of settings, including campus coverage and special events.
• Campus Watch members make a commitment to report suspicious activity or breaches of security to UPD using their UPD-issued Sprint PCS phone, which dials directly to the UPD dispatcher when the send button is depressed.

Student employment: Community Service Aides & Interns

• Community Service Aides provide a valuable function by being the "eyes and ears" for the department. This task is accomplished by providing access control for specific buildings on campus, and by requesting that all students, visitors and vendors show I.D. Cards and sign our control book when entering our facilities.
• Opportunities for both paid and unpaid internships are available during the spring semester, fall semester and the summer. Unpaid internships include involvement in the Investigations Division, the Security and Safety Division, Crime Prevention and Training Division and/or the Administrative Division. Paid internships are made possible by co-sponsorship between the GW Police Department and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Paid interns (2 per year) work directly with the Coordinator of the Campus Public Safety Institute (a training academy for campus police officers in Washington, DC).
  
  

What steps has UPD and the University taken to ensure the GW community's safety in a city- or nation-wide emergency situation?

The University has taken a proactive role in safeguarding the GW community through our emergency preparedness plans. While we cannot anticipate every emergency situation, the University has an Incident Response Team and a Crisis Action Team that can be activated in a matter of minutes when situations warrant such action. The Crisis Action Team has been in place for years and has served the University well in dealing with emergencies on campus in an efficient and effective manner.

The decisions made by senior management who lead the institution are always based on a prioritization for personal safety. Decisions are guided by informed personnel and accurate and factual reporting not by unconfirmed media presumptions about threats to personal safety. In addition, the experienced staff of the University Police Department (UPD) who respond to emergencies on campus are trained to deal with emergencies such as building evacuations.

What is the best way to obtain information about the status of GW in a crisis situation?

As most of us saw reported on network news, an unprecedented number of the telephone lines into D.C. and New York were jammed on September 11th, and even cellular service was interrupted in many areas of the country. As we all learned, this is a natural occurrence when the volume of calls exceeds the capacity. As always, we encourage GW community members and parents to check the GW News Center and the Campus Advisories site, or to call 202-994-5050 for the latest emergency information about developments on campus. In any emergency situation, we will post updates on the Web site throughout the day. The Parent Services and GW Housing Programs on the GWired Student Network are also great resources for student services related responses and activities during an emergency situation.