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Reporting a Crime

Providing safety and security are the primary responsibilities of the Department of Public Safety, and our main goal is to serve and protect the university community. This, however, is a goal we cannot achieve alone. We need the cooperation of everyone in the community. As members of the university community, we all have a moral responsibility and a personal interest in the maintenance of a safe environment on campus for all to enjoy. Taking responsibility and reporting crime and suspicious activities in a timely manner will be beneficial to you, the university and the entire community.

Reporting criminal activity or other emergencies occurring on campus

The campus community can report criminal activity on campus in the following ways:

  • Call the University Police Department at (717) 477-1444 (campus extension 1444).
  • Report a crime in person at the University Police Department station located in the Reed Operations Center.
  • Use one of the provided emergency phones on campus. These emergency phones are located in various areas throughout the campus and report directly to the University Police Department station when activated. (See campus map for locations.) Anyone on campus needing assistance in a medical or fire emergency should dial 911.

Even if victims of crime do not wish to pursue criminal or judicial charges, they are still encouraged to file a confidential report with the Division of Student Affairs or with the University Police Department. This allows for information about the incident to be documented and analyzed while protecting the identity of the reporting person. Having the university community file reports for all incidents that occur on campus allows the university to accurately report the number of criminal incidents and determine whether crime patterns are present to protect the campus community from future criminal acts. 

The University Police Department maintains both crime and fire logs, which are available for public inspection 24-7. These logs are located in the police dispatch area.

The University Police Department maintains a 24-hour dispatch center, which is staffed by a police officer, to answer all calls for assistance. Upon receiving a request for assistance, an officer, along with any other appropriate personnel, will be dispatched immediately to the location.

In cases involving criminal activity, university police officers will respond and conduct an investigation. Information regarding all citations or arrests made by university police for criminal violations on campus is forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct. Arrests of university students by municipal or state police agencies that are brought to the attention of the University Police Department also are forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct. All students are held accountable for their behavior on and off campus property.

For reporting Sexual Misconduct or Sex Crimes, visit the Title IX Resources

Title IX Services and Resources
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Shippensburg University and the University Police Department strongly encourage faculty, staff, students, and guests to report any illegal or suspicious activity in a timely manner to the University Police Department. Reporting is especially encouraged when the victim of a crime elects or is unable to make such a report. Those incidents reported to pastoral and professional counselors are not included in campus crime statistics. Reports of criminal activity that are brought to the attention of the Dean of Students, Housing and Residence Life, any student organization or activity advisor, athletic coaches, intramural sport advisors, and medical health professionals are required to be reported, and they should be brought to the attention of the University Police Department either by the victims or by the person receiving the report as soon as possible after the report is received. Forms have been provided to those on campus identified as Campus Security Authorities for these reports. Those who report criminal incidents to pastoral or professional counselors are encouraged to voluntarily report the incident to the University Police Department on a confidential basis. If off campus, individuals are encouraged to report crimes to the local police in a timely manner.

You can also download a form here.

FAQs About Reporting a Crime

The University Police Department investigates all incidents involving criminal activity that it receives. The department also may coordinate investigations with outside agencies as needed. The university does not have written agreements with other agencies; however, Pennsylvania Act 48 allows university police officers to act outside the campus limits and with other agencies under specific conditions. All university crime statistics are reported monthly to the Pennsylvania State Police for use in the Uniform Crime Report and arrest information for offenses as required by state criminal history record retention laws.

Shippensburg University works in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction in areas surrounding the campus to monitor criminal activity at off-campus locations. The Shippensburg Borough Police and the Pennsylvania State Police routinely provide information to the university regarding incidents involving students residing or visiting within Shippensburg Borough or Shippensburg Township. All incidents received by these agencies that are known to involve students of the university are indicated as such through their reporting system. University police officers on patrol are equipped to monitor radio dispatches for other local police departments as well as other types of emergency services. Reports to the Department of Public Safety involving students as victims in off-campus incidents are recorded and assistance is rendered in regard to appropriate support services available at the university. Students who participate in illegal activity at off-campus locations are held accountable by means of the university judicial process.

Statistics for on-campus properties include all incidents reported to the Department of Public Safety that occurred in any building or property owned or controlled by the institution located on campus and used to meet or support the educational purposes of the institution. These statistics also include all residential facilities on campus.

Statistics for residential facilities include all incidents reported to the Department of Public Safety that occurred in the student residential facilities located on campus. These numbers also are included in the On-Campus Property crime statistics.

Statistics for non-campus properties include all incidents known to the university that are reported to local and state police agencies for incidents occurring at properties owned or controlled by student organizations and any educational facilities owned by the university but located off the main campus.

Reporting for public properties includes all incidents known to the university that are reported to local and state police agencies and occurred in areas geographically contiguous to campus property.

Shippensburg University supports and encourages programs that benefit all people and that seek to eradicate discrimination and injustice. The University Police Department as well as the Office of Social Equity investigates any incident involving bias against any individual or group due to national origin, actual or perceived race, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability. Incidents of this nature are responded to immediately and are recorded by the police department separately from other incident types.

Contact the Shippensburg University Police Department (SUPD)

Reed Operations Center   1871 Old Main Drive   Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-477-1444