General Information

Authorized by Oklahoma law, the University Police Department is an independent law enforcement agency whose officers are commissioned by the OU Board of Regents and certified by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. OUPD functions separately from all other law enforcement agencies, although agreements have been made whereby assistance or mutual aid may be obtained in emergencies.

OUPD officers are available 24 hours a day, year-round. They are trained and certified as peace officers under Oklahoma state statutes, and many OU officers have received specialized training in areas of law enforcement and related fields.

OU police officers have jurisdiction on all university property and "territory adjacent thereto." They are authorized to conduct traffic enforcement on campus and on streets peripheral to campus, to conduct follow-up investigations and serve arrest warrants issued as a result of completed investigations at off-campus locations, and to exercise police authority or take action as appropriate for criminal offenses observed by them while on or off university property.

OUPD also employs CSOs (Community Service Officers) and Security Guards who are trained to perform specific functions that do not require the presence of a commissioned police officer. These unformed officers are not sworn, commissioned or armed. They do, however, have the authority to enforce university regulations and can make citizen's arrests.

Requests for service are assigned and response made on a priority basis, with emergencies receiving immediate attention. If your situation is urgent, please advise the dispatcher when calling.

Persons interested in employment at OUPD as a police officer, community service officer, security guard, or other position, should contact OUPD Administrative Services, at 325-2864, or by e-mail at mail-hiring@ou.edu. Please include your name and email address, or U.S. mail address, with any inquiry. 

Click HERE to view various OUPD job descriptions online.

OUPD provides all law enforcement services, including the investigation of criminal offenses and traffic collisions occurring on university property and the recording of official reports relating to those incidents.

Every crime, no matter how minor, should be reported so OUPD has an accurate picture of the crime on campus and can apply its personnel, resources and efforts in the most effective manner.

Among its responsibilities, OUPD also provides security for special events, such as access control; patron management; protection of dignitaries and guests; security for facilities, equipment or cash; escort for receipts; and general coordination of emergency management.

OUPD also provides animal control services on the Norman campus.

OUPD also takes complaints regarding illegally or improperly parked vehicles or traffic conditions that are causing congestion or a hazard. All other inquiries regarding parking and transportation should be directed to the Office of Parking and Transportation at 325-3311.

The University Police is limited in its efforts by the availability of staff and the number of demands for services other than security. OUPD simply cannot watch everything; therefore, security is everybody's business.

Crime on campus can be significantly reduced if each person will take the time to properly secure personal and university property; to mark and record the make, model and serial number of personal possessions; to lock rooms and buildings when leaving; always to lock vehicles and take the keys; to observe and report suspicious persons or activities; and never to leave valuables unattended or unsecured. Cooperation is necessary for the successful prevention of crime. OUPD offers a number of crime prevention programs to assist university students, faculty and staff in fighting crime on campus. Questions regarding OUPD Crime Prevention programs should be referred to Crime Prevention at 325-2864, or by e-mail at mail-crimeprev@ou.edu

The Police Department provides functions and services not included in this overview. If you encounter a situation that affects the safety or security of the university community in any way, or if you need assistance, call 325-2864. In addition, the department may be contacted if no other department is available or can satisfactorily respond to a request for needed service. The dispatcher will attempt to place the caller in contact with the appropriate department or see that the problem is addressed.

“The police are the public

and the public are the police.

The police are simply members of

the public who are paid to give full-time

attention to the duties that are incumbent

on every citizen in the interest of community

welfare and existence.” 

-Sir Robert Peel, 1829