Public Safety and Police Department

The Public Safety and Police Department is on the job 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether on routine patrol, responding to emergencies, or simply providing campus information, our uniformed officers ensure our campuses are safe and civil. Patrol officers make up two-thirds of our personnel and perform several functions aimed at maintaining an environment conducive to learning and personal development. We strive to achieve this by patrolling the university community, traffic enforcement, and responding to calls for public assistance and welfare. Our officers also provide protection for visiting dignitaries that have included senators, congressmen, governors, and high ranking military officials. Patrol officers generally work in full uniform and operate in marked police vehicles.

In addition to patrolling the campus in traditional police vehicles, the patrol officers also utilizes foot patrols, bicycles and ATVs for general and targeted enforcement. These vehicles allow officers to patrol many areas of the university’s campus where patrol cars cannot.

The Communications Division is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Communications officers monitor emergency telephone lines, police and fire radio frequencies, and a national/state crime information computer. Additionally, they provide access control systems to the campus and monitor the National Weather Service Radio—issuing severe weather alerts to our students and faculty/staff. Our communications officers have the responsibility of monitoring security cameras placed strategically throughout university buildings and their parking lots.  All video footage is recorded and can be accessed at any time for evidence purposes. 

Each communications officer undergoes extensive and continuous training to keep abreast of current technological and emergency communications techniques. The communications officer is often the first contact someone has with the department. They endeavor to listen effectively and quickly disseminate information to the appropriate field unit, departmental office, or other public safety agency. While we hope you never find yourself in need of emergency assistance, our communications officers welcome the opportunity to serve you.

Investigators perform a wide variety of investigative and administrative functions to serve the University of North Georgia (UNG) community. Investigators routinely work with surrounding law enforcement agencies on multi-agency task forces in response to crimes that affect multiple communities. Our investigators have taken part in several successful task force investigations that culminated in violent offenders being taken into custody. From death investigations to parking lot accidents, Investigations has the responsibility and training to fully investigate all reported incidents. In recent years, we have successfully investigated all types of criminal complaints, including numerous cases of identity theft, theft by taking, sexual assaults, and computer related crimes involving the UNG community.

Officers engage in a number of advanced and continuous training courses which enable them to remain at the forefront of the law enforcement profession. Each newly hired officer must be a state certified police officer with a minimum of two years prior experience. Once hired, officers undergo a rigorous field training program within the police department, which includes advanced certifications and training such as Radar and Intoxilizer Certifications, Standardized Field Sobriety training, Firearms Qualifications, and Defensive Tactics training. During the field training program, officers must familiarize themselves with the patrol rifle. All officers undergo annual Active Shooter Training in cooperation with local and state law enforcement agencies.