University officers are proactive in their patrols of the university. The university police utilizes marked patrol vehicles, one all-terrain vehicle, and a fleet of patrol bicycles.

The USD Police Department actively utilizes bicycles patrol routinely throughout the day. University police officers who volunteer to become bicycle officers are required to complete and maintain certification through the International Police Mountain Bicycle Association (IPBMA) Police Cyclist Course.

Investigations

All campus law enforcement officers are certified through the South Dakota Law Enforcement Academy and have been trained in investigation techniques. UPD police officers are available to meet with individuals to discuss criminal incidents, safety concerns, and other matters related to individuals personal welfare.

Special Events

UPD can regularly be seen at campus events throughout the year. Major events the police department is involved in include collegiate athletic events, South Dakota high school football playoffs, the DAKOTA Farm Show, concerts, and numerous other university functions. Additionally, the University police employs students who also assist in special events details. USD students are encouraged to contact UPD for information regarding becoming a student special events officer. Please return completed application to the police department office in the Davidson Building.

Bicycle Registration 

The bicycle registration program is a free service available to students, faculty and staff. To register your bicycle, please bring your bicycle to the UPD office. An officer will take your information, your bicycle information, and place a USD tag on your bicycle.

USD UPD recommends individuals lock their bicycles (wheels and frame included) to only bicycle racks. Ensure to keep the purchase receipt for your bicycle along with all receipts of accessories, as well as the make, model, color, size, serial number, and a photograph if possible. If your bicycle is stolen, this information is helpful to police officers and your insurance company. Make sure you can accurately describe your bicycle should it be stolen. If living in the residence halls, take your bicycle home when the school year ends.

Educational Programming

The police department is active in providing the university community with educational trainings. UPD conducts educational training programs that range from general personal protection classes to crisis intervention seminars. UPD is available upon request to conduct a variety of educational programs. To schedule a training or see what specific programs are offered, please contact UPD directly.

Campus Escorts

Campus escorts is a service provided by the University Police Department for students and employees who feel more secure moving about campus in the company of a police officer.

Escorts area available seven days a week between sundown to sunup. Daytime escorts are at the discretion of the officer. Escorts to or from off-campus locations are not typically provided but are at the discretion of officers.

To request an escort, call UPD at 658-6199. You will be asked to provide your name, number of people to be escorted, location & contact phone number, and your destination.

Housing Liaison Program

The University Police Department has partnered with the University Housing Department to conduct a Housing Liaison Program. The program is centered towards residential housing facilities on campus in which an officer is assigned to an individual residence hall. The officer provides the residence hall with a number of services, including educational programming, attendance at residence hall floor meetings, direct contact with the officer upon request, and routine officer walk-throughs of the residence hall facilities. This direct link between UPD and the residence halls allows students to become more familiar with the services of UPD and to build a strong, safe community throughout all USD residential facilities.

Gun Storage

Residential students and guests wishing to store firearms who do not have a personal vehicle in which to do so, or who wish to store in an alternate location from their vehicle, may store their firearm at the University Police Department storage facility at no charge. Storage at UPD offers security advantages, such as secured and locked storage, and UPD personnel’s expertise and training in safe firearm handling.

UPD will provide storage of firearms belonging to USD students. For the safety of the property, students and UPD Staff the following procedures will be implemented:

1. Firearms may be checked in/out at anytime. Students and guests are required to call UPD (658-6199) prior to their arrival to ensure a certified officer is available to assist them. 
2. All students checking firearms in/out must have their USD Student ID. Guests must have a valid government issued photo ID. When checking firearms out, students or guests must also have the "Weapon Storage Card" that they received when they initially checked in their firearm.
3. Firearms to be stored must be in a soft case or sock, (no hard cases) and have a trigger lock attached. 
4. Firearms without a trigger lock attached will not be accepted. 
5. Loaded firearms will not be accepted. 
6. All firearms to be stored will be checked through NCIC. If the firearm is discovered to be stolen UPD Officers will place the firearm into evidence and may not release the  firearm until the conclusion of an appropriate investigation. 
7. No firearm will be released to individuals displaying signs of impairment.

Crime Statistics 

In compliance with federal law, the University of South Dakota prepares an annual report on campus safety, security programs and services. Originally enacted in 1990, the federal law was amended in 1998 and renamed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Clery Compliance

• USD Fire Safety Security Report (Clery)
• Duty to Report Suspected Crime (Policy 7.002)
• CSA Report Form

Sex Offender Registry

• Clay County, SD (Vermillion) Sex Offender Registry

Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Review

• USD Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act Biennial Review
• Drug Free School and Campuses Act 2022 Annual Notification

Report a Crime

Whether you are a victim of or witness to a crime, you have the responsibility to promptly and accurately report crime. If a crime occurs on or around the USD campus, report it immediately to University Police. Crimes occurring off-campus should be reported to the Vermillion Police Department.

Provide This Information:

Describe the incident: what, where and when

• Injuries you or another have sustained
• Did the suspect(s) have a weapon
• When and where was the suspect last seen
• What did the suspect(s) look like (gender, race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing, facial hair, tattoos, etc.).

Confidential Reporting of a Crime

If you do not want to pursue action within USD's conduct system or criminal justice system:

• Submit a Silent Witness Form without revealing your identity. This keeps the matter confidential, while taking steps to help ensure your safety and that of others
• Victim Advocacy Resources: Many resources are available for victims of sexual assault seeking counseling, medical and legal assistance.

Additional Resources

In addition to University Police, you may contact the following to report criminal/suspicious activity:

• Dean of Students
  605-658-3555
  E-mail: studentservices@usd.edu
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
  605-658-3561
  E-mail: srr@usd.edu
• Student Counseling Center
  605-658-3580
  E-mail: scc@usd.edu
• Title IX
  605-658-3665
  Email: Jean.Merkle@usd.edu

To report any campus emergency, dial 911. University Police can be reached at 605-658-6199 and University Relations at 605-658-6260.

Campus alerts are displayed on the top of each page of our website. In the event of a major emergency, the USD homepage will be updated with information about the nature of the emergency and further emergency procedures.

Campus Alert System 

The Campus Alert system is an emergency notification tool for the public universities governed by the SD Board of Regents. This system uses the Everbridge platform to help us notify students, staff, and faculty of emergencies that occur on or near campus locations. Emergencies may include, but not be limited to, weather alerts, school closings, fire or criminal activity.

Students are automatically a part of this system through their campus-assigned email address. An email is also sent to the campus-assigned email account with information about how to log in and change contact preferences for the alert system. By logging in and registering, you may opt to register your personal telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal electronic devices to receive these Campus Alerts. It is recommended that you at least assign your Mobile Phone as a secondary contact. In that case you would receive an email to your USD email account and a phone call with a recorded message to your Mobile Phone.

Staff and faculty are also automatically included in this alert system with their campus-assigned email address. Staff and faculty are required to register and add any campus-provided phone numbers (desk, cellular). Inclusion of personal contact information such as home telephone or personal cellular phone is encouraged, but not required.

Logging In

• Instructions - How to Log in (Read This First)  
  
• Login to Campus Alert  

Notification Options:

• Mobile Phone
• Second Mobile Phone
• Home Phone
• Business Phone
• Campus Assigned Email
• Secondary Email
• SMS (text message sent to mobile phone)
• Instant Messaging

You will be able to assign priorities to each of the above contact options. In the event of an emergency, your priority one contact will be notified first, followed by your second, and so on. Once you receive a message from the emergency system you will be asked to reply to the message to confirm that you received it. If you do not confirm you will continue to be contacted at the numbers and addresses that you set up when you registered over and over again until you confirm.

Note that once you confirm you may still get a few more emails or phone calls. The system will take a few minutes to catch up and acknowledge your confirmation and until then, the system will keep contacting you with the emergency notifications.

The administrator of the USD Campus Alert System is Student Services (studentservices@usd.edu).

Emergency Operations Plan

The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount to the University and we have an Emergency Operating Plan in place to ensure the effective management of emergency efforts involved in preparing for and responding to situations associated with emergencies.
The Emergency Operating Plan provides USD with a systematic approach for solving problems created by the threat or occurrence of any type of disaster or emergency. The major goals of the Plan are the preservation of life, the protection of property and continuity of academic and business operations. In any disaster situation, the University expects to make full utilization of its resources to meet its needs and to call upon outside agencies when University resources are or become inadequate. 

Emergency Communications

The timely and accurate release of information is essential in any campus crisis or emergency. 

The V.P. of Marketing and Enrollment or designee will assess the emergency situation and facilitate the preparation of official statements.

Marketing Communications & University Relations is the only office through which official university announcements, activities and statements may be communicated to the general public and the media.

• The university has a variety of tools to communicate with the public in the event of emergencies. Depending on the type and timing of the emergency, tools such as the Campus Alert system (text, phone, email), local media and usd.edu website will be used to inform faculty, staff and students of the emergency.
• Alerts (weather, natural disasters, cancellation of classes, campus alerts, etc.) will appear at the top of web and myUSD portal pages.
• Depending on the nature of the crisis, the university may hold a series of press briefings.

Marketing Communications & University Relations
Phone: 605-658-6260

After Hours call University Police
Phone: 605-658-6199

Everbridge App

USD uses the Everbridge emergency notification system to alert the campus community of emergencies. Through the Everbridge mobile app, faculty, staff and students have access to additional, enhanced safety features that help keep our community safe and informed during crisis situations, including an emergency call feature, SOS panic button and safe corridor check-in notifications.

Through the Everbridge mobile app, faculty, staff and students have access to additional, enhanced safety features that help keep our community safe and informed during crisis situations, including an emergency call feature, SOS panic button and safe corridor check-in notifications. With the safe corridor feature, users can proactively send check-in notifications to campus security if they are in a potentially vulnerable situation, such as walking across campus late at night by themselves. If the user doesn't check in at the prescribed interval once they have activated the 'safe corridor,' campus police will be dispatched to the user's last known location to ensure they are safe. You can read more about the app on USD's website and watch this video for a tutorial of the safety features.

Download the App 

Emergency Procedures

Fire

• Call 911 
• Evacuate building
• Pull fire alarm and close the door

Evacuation

• Stay calm
• Use stairs
• Help the disabled if possible 
• Process to Rally Point
• Do not re-enter the building

Suspicious Package/Bag

• Call UPD at 605-658-6199
• DO NOT handle suspicious package or other items

Suspicious Behavior

• Immediately report suspicious behavior by calling 605-658-6199

Medical Emergency

• Call 911
• Provide to dispatchers:
• Location of incident 
• Nature of illness/injury
• Number of victims
• Your name

Sexual Misconduct

• Call UPD at 605-658-6119 or 
• Call Title IX office at 605-677-5651
• Seek medical attention (if needed)

Severe Weather

• Seek Shelter immediately
• Move to the lowest level in building 
• Move to interior are (hallways)
• Stay away from windows and glass

Active Shooter

• Evacuate - If there is an accessible escape path, try to evacuate to a safe place.
• Lockdown - If evacuation is not possible find a place to hide and baracade the door.
• Counter - As a last resort, and only when your life is in danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter.

For more information regarding parking policies, visit our Parking page.

Parking Map

Printable (.pdf) version of the USD Parking Map including parking lot designations by permit.

Printable Parking Map

Parking Enforcement:

Enforcement of parking is conducted by police officers, security officers, and student parking enforcement personnel. Parking rules and regulations are enforceable 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Online Parking Payment 

Purchase a parking pass or pay your parking tickets.

USD Parking

Temporary Parking Permits 

Yearly campus parking passes are available for purchase at the USD Business Office, located in Slagle Hall. 

Temporary parking passes can be purchased at $2.00 per day at the University Police Department office. Your name, phone number, and vehicle license plate information is required for issuance of the permit.

What We Do

The mission of the University of South Dakota Threat Assessment Team is to enhance community safety by investigating and evaluating expressed concerns regarding intimidating, threatening or potentially violent behavior.

Contact

If you have an emergency, contact 911.

The University Police Department can be contacted at 605-658-6199. Please use the below button to report a situation or concerning behavior to the Threat Assessment Team.

Report a Situation or Concerning Behavior

Policies and Procedures

• USD Threat Assessment Procedure
• SDBOR Policy 1:28

Our Team

The Threat assessment team is made up of representatives from Human Resources, the University Police Department, Student Services, Academic Affairs and mental health providers.