Department of Public Safety
Mission Statement and Goals

Objective

It is the objective of the Department of Public Safety to maintain statements of mission, goals, and services.  All members shall read these statements and take them into account in the performance of their duties.

Procedure

Mission Statement

The mission of DPS is to provide police, security, risk management, environmental safety and parking  services to the University community.  We recognize that our authority comes from the Constitution of the United States, a continually reaffirmed expression of the will of the people, and we are dedicated to upholding its expression of the fundamental value of all people.  We view our community and our employees as invaluable assets whose welcome diversity encourages us to strive for a place where their expression and worth can flourish.  We do this with the clear understanding that our ultimate responsibility is to enhance and celebrate the University experience.  The Department recognizes that specific programs aimed at encouraging community participation will be most successful when fostered within a climate of mutual community trust.  This is most likely to occur as a result of frequent, free, and open contact among Department members, the public at large, and University community representatives.

Goals

Provide for the protection of persons and property against criminal acts, conduct investigations, and provide a wide range of public services.

Promote personal, occupational and environmental safety through awareness and prevention efforts.  Provide programs and services that purposefully respond to current and emerging safety needs of the community.

Involve students in challenging learning experiences so as to enhance their development both in and out of the classroom.

Foster specific programs which encourage dialogue between the Department and citizens, representatives of the community, and interested groups.

Realizing that immediate law enforcement needs come first, encourage the expansion of individual Departmental member's interpersonal contacts within the community and among its diverse elements.

Statement of Services

The following information describes the services we provide to the University community.

Police and Security

Police operations functions to serve and respond to the needs of a diverse community with fairness and mutual respect in a spirit of caring for the community, recognizing the special responsibility we have toward victims of crime and those who are injured.

Police services provides the following services:

1. crime prevention information programs and service to systematically detour, deny, and detect criminal opportunity;
2. round-the-clock response to emergency and non-emergency situations relating to the safety and security of people and property associated with the University;
3. documentation of criminal activity and certain defined noncriminal incidents as required by law and administrative policy, and follow-up where deemed worthwhile or necessary;
4. preventive and directed uniform patrol by vehicle or foot to lessen criminal activity and to assist people generally;
5. locking and unlocking of designated University buildings, and security guard patrols of campus grounds and buildings;
6. assistance to individuals with special needs which include, but are not limited to, unlocking office doors, unlocking car doors, pushing stalled vehicles, delivering emergency messages, giving directions, providing "jump-starts";
7. making arrests, collecting evidence, writing citations, providing information for prosecution and testifying in court.

Risk Management

Risk Management serves to administer the University of Colorado Insurance Pool at the campus level, including the administration of all lines of insurance including worker's compensation, general liability, auto liability, and property coverage.

The program will coordinate the preservation of the University of Colorado's assets and earning power from loss or destruction through an effective risk management program to include:

1. identification of loss exposure systematic;
2. examination of alternative risk management techniques for dealing with the identified exposures;
3. selection of the seemingly most appropriate technique(s) to be applied for each exposure;
4. implementation of the chosen technique(s) and (e) monitor the effectiveness of the implemented techniques and make adjustments as necessary;
5. to develop and implement programs, services and procedures which protect the university from serious interruptions in its business operations through insurance claims processing and management;
6. to serve as a forum to provide education and training pertinent to overall risk management, loss control and related insurance issues; and
   
7. to communicate recommendations to the University of Colorado Insurance Pool's Board of Directors.

Environmental Safety

Environmental Safety serves to promote a safe academic and occupational environment through:

1. management, control and disposal of hazardous materials;
2. inspection and maintenance of campus fire safety prevention/protection equipment;
3. conduct safety surveys of university facilities, equipment, and work areas to apply applicable procedures, practices and regulations;
4. maintain records, files, documentation and references relating to the operation of environmental health safety; and
5. provide emergency response to chemical/hazardous materials spills and safety incidents.

Major Emergency

This category is defined by extraordinary events which demand police presence to maintain order, or police expertise to investigate and coordinate.  Some of the situations which call for police response in this area include political or issue related demonstrations, hazardous material spills, fires, floods, suicides, homicides, or a series of unsolved serious crimes.

Participation in the development and testing of plans designed to preserve life and property in the event of major emergency or disaster;

Provide communications equipment, support systems and technical skills to assist in the coordination of the various agencies involved;

Provide systems for access to a variety of resources, including equipment and personnel by call-out procedures, depending on the needs of the emergency;

Investigative follow-up to define the criminal or noncriminal nature of an incident and to arrive at conclusions as to cause;

Maintenance of order through crowd and traffic control in situations where threatened by demonstrations or disrupted by accidental or natural disaster.

Parking Services

Parking Operations serves to expedite the safe and orderly movement and storage of vehicles within the limits of available space to support the role and mission of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

1. manage parking programs by allocation of parking spaces and the collection of fees;
2. provide for parking regulation and enforcement through operational programs including citation issuance and collection efforts;
3. plan for, develop, and maintain parking facilities;
4. provide for visitor and special event parking; and
5. provide for bicycle parking and bicycle safety education programs.

Transportation Services

Transportation Services administers the campus transportation and motor pool programs in support of the role and mission of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

1. Within fiscal guidelines, provide safe and efficient bus and shuttle services from far parking lots to the main campus.
2. Provide a means by which campus departments and student clubs may charter bus services.
3. Manage the campus motor pool within restrictions established by the State of Colorado Fleet Management system.

Advisory

The Department of Public Safety serves to keep the public informed of matters of joint concern that are threats to the mission of the University.

Provide security surveys recommending types and placement of alarm systems, as well as other security measures including cash control and physical modifications for security purposes.

Conduct background checks to assist employers in hiring decisions.

Offer instruction through classes or meetings in crime/safety trends and suggested actions which may tend to reduce or prevent specific crimes/incidents, such as sex assaults and burglaries.

Routinely supply the media with information within the legal right of the public to possess and, in the event of special circumstances, inform the community of conditions and hazards.

Develop and offer statistics concerning crimes and safety incidents affecting decisions relating to criminal activity, administrative policy and disciplinary actions.

Maintain liaison with the District Attorney's office and other law enforcement agencies to assist as consultant and negotiator in criminal matters affecting the enforcement of law on campus.

Special Events

A special event is a planned University sponsored or sanctioned function in which the police become involved at the request of the sponsor or on their own initiative to promote safety and order during the event.  Examples of special events include concerts, parties, athletic events, Programming Board speaker series, and occasionally V.I.P. s or controversial speakers and celebrities.

Participate in the planning of large, complex events and assume responsibility for providing adequate police and security staffing;

Deployment of police and security personnel for purposes of crowd and traffic control;

Upon approved request, assign officers to money guard, money escort and peacekeeping duties;

Collect background information where applicable and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of V.I.P. visitors, celebrities, or controversial personalities.

While the above listed services are not all inclusive, the five categories of service identified are generally representative of the range of services provided by the Department of Public Safety.  The vast majority of the services listed are provided by the department as a function of its continuing base budget.  Several of the services listed require supplemental funding support which is negotiated before the fact with the responsible user group.