The Notre Dame Security Police Department will be renamed the Notre Dame Police Department, effective March 1, to bring clarity for both the campus community and partners in law enforcement, more accurately portray the enforcement duties of the department and reinforce the department as a sworn police force.
After completing an extensive study, including discussions with campus constituents and consultations with chiefs of police at peer institutions, the University of Notre Dame has made the name change and is creating a greater distinction in the duties and uniforms of police officers and other campus security personnel. Namely, only police officers will be responsible for responding to calls, and only officers will be on patrol and drive patrol vehicles with red and blue light bars on top. Notre Dame police officers will continue to wear navy blue shirts and pants while outreach, engagement and safety inspection staff will wear green shirts and khaki pants.
“When someone calls the Notre Dame Police Department, they will be speaking with a police officer,” said Keri Kei Shibata, chief of police at Notre Dame. “And, only our officers will respond to emergencies and patrol campus, so our students, visitors, faculty and staff will know what they can expect from the officer.”
The outreach and engagement coordinators will manage community outreach and crime prevention programs, such as personal defense, sexual assault prevention and other training sessions for self-defense, while the safety and inspection technicians will perform routine checks across campus.
The Notre Dame Police Department will continue to be focused on its mission to serve the Notre Dame community and support the University’s mission by providing a safe, well-ordered environment in collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on February 21, 2019.