Public Safety
Our mission is to protect the life and property of all people in Samford University community.
Our goal is to enhance the quality of life at Samford University by providing a safe and secure campus through professional protective service and proactive crime prevention. We strive to create a safe environment where students, visitors, and employees can learn, live, and work.
Services
SUDPS maintains a close working relationship with the Homewood Police Department and Homewood Fire and Rescue Service. Our police officers have the shortest response time to any location on campus and are typically the first responders to incidents on campus. If fire or emergency medical services are needed, police officers will respond to the scene and direct appropriate service units to the exact location of an incident on campus. Assistance for all off-campus emergencies should be requested by calling 9-1-1.
24-Hour Emergency Response
DPS provides patrol and dispatch services 24/7/365, with immediate access to municipal emergency services. The Department of Public Safety’s radio communications dispatchers cover telephones and two-way radios on a 24-hour basis to give information, respond to emergencies and contact other agencies. Officers and dispatchers can immediately contact the city of Homewood’s fire department, Emergency Medical Service and police department by the Department of Public Safety’s radio system.
The Department of Public Safety monitors the National Weather Service radio network. RAVE and Samford Alert are campuswide emergency notification alerting systems used which will notify the campus community of threatening weather conditions.Facility Security
Administrative and academic buildings are secured as soon as possible after the offices close or, in the case of a classroom building, after the last class of the day. Through routine patrols, police officers make regular checks of building to ensure that they remain secure until scheduled opening time.
Jump Start Batteries
The Department of Public Safety will jump-start your battery to assist in starting your vehicle. The department can also help contact a service center or towing service.
Law Enforcement
DPS police officers are charged with enforcing the laws and ordinances of the State of Alabama and the City of Homewood. Officers conduct investigations into and document all crimes and offenses committed on Samford University property.
Lost and Found
A lost and found service for displaced property is provided by the Department of Public Safety. Found property may be turned in at the DPS office where officers will attempt to contact the proper owner.
Nighttime Campus Access Control Gate
All campus gates close at midnight each day and access on and off campus is made at the West Gate only. The public safety department maintains a substation at the West Gate, and an officer is posted there from midnight until 5 a.m. each night to monitor persons coming on campus. Individuals entering or departing the campus are subject to security checks for valid identification, campus destination or other relevant information.
Residence Hall Security Checks
Public safety personnel make routine security checks of the residence halls checking for building safety and security. The Department of Public Safety will respond to all reports of fire alarms and safety hazards. Routine fire drills are conducted by Residence Life for students living in residence halls to familiarize them with emergency evacuation procedures and exit routes from their rooms.
Safety Escorts
The Department of Public Safety provides a safety escort service for all students to any safe destination on campus during the day or night. The escort service is provided for safety-related reasons only. Because there is safety in numbers, groups of three or more students are encouraged to walk to their destination. The escort is given by either foot or vehicular patrol.
Security Patrols
The Department of Public Safety continuously patrols the campus with patrol vehicles and foot patrol. The department routinely maintains 7 marked patrol vehicles and 2 golf carts for patrol and escort/assistance services. Officers often patrol campus by walking through the quad, CHS, and various building areas.
Unlocking Vehicles
In most cases, public safety will assist the driver with contacting a certified locksmith to unlock vehicle doors. For officer safety reasons, the department will not attempt to unlock a vehicle equipped with side impact air bags.
Blue-light Emergency Phones
Blue-light emergency phones are located throughout the campus. When the emergency phone is activated, the Department of Public Safety dispatcher is automatically alerted, and an officer is sent to the location of the telephone. No dialing is required. The person activating the phone should try to describe the emergency in as much detail as possible to the dispatcher.
