The safety of the students, staff and visitors of Sam Houston State University is the number one concern of the University Police Department. To ensure that, the department offers several different services that benefit everyone on campus.
Although many of the programs offered by UPD are common knowledge, some of the little-known ones include assistance to vehicles with dead batteries or flat tires.
“The department will assist with ‘jump starting’ a battery or possibly changing a tire,” UPD officer Jeff Butterworth said. “All other vehicle problems such as locking your keys in your vehicle are referred to a local wrecker service.”
Additionally, with the fall semester just getting started and midterms just around the corner, students and staff are more prone to be on campus after dark. UPD offers an escort program 24-hours-a-day to students, staff and visitors going to on-campus destinations. Upon being called, a uniformed patrol officer or student assistant with UPD will accompany the pedestrian across campus to ensure safety.
“An individual can also always call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency and UPD will be notified as well as the City of Huntsville,” Butterworth said.
All students, faculty and staff of SHSU are encouraged to register their property with UPD. By registering property, in the event that it is stolen, UPD can access serial numbers to help locate the items.
According to Butterworth, the data entry from the registration will remain in the database even after a student graduates and can be given to any law enforcement agency for investigative purposes.
UPD officers will be on hand to provide assistance with the property registration program and safety information for on and off campus living. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet and greet officers from the police department and check out the variety of public safety vehicles and equipment the department uses.
UPD is available 24 hours a day to assist students, staff, faculty, and visitors to the SHSU campus at any time, even during holiday breaks.
To contact UPD, you can call, 936-294-1794 for non-emergency purposes or 936-294-1000 in the event of an emergency.