The University of Alabama in
Huntsville
UAH
Police Department
Submitted by: Officer Markus Bressler
Captain Dianna Marshall
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1.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville: Home of the Chargers
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) was founded in 1950 and became an autonomous campus
within The University of Alabama System in 1969. UAH is in the heart of the City of Huntsville which
ranks seventh nationwide for job growth, ranked third for professionals and is among the thirty top
places in the nation to live. The university has grown into one of the nation’s premiere research
universities, offering a challenging hands-on curriculum that ensures our graduates are prepared to
become tomorrow’s leaders. On 400 acres and over 40 buildings, located close to the Marshall Space
Center, UAH offers more than 80 areas of undergraduate and graduate programs in six colleges, is the
home of over 120 student organizations and offers over 70 accredited degrees. Twelve research centers
are located on campus, modern technologies and equipment are constantly developed, used and stored
on campus, while numerous organizations of the public and private sector as well as NASA and the
Armed Services work closely with research teams and provide internships and employment options for
graduated students. More than 8000 students from 44 states and 88 countries study at UAH with a
faculty / student ratio of 16:1. The UAH Propulsions Research Center was cited for the third year in a
row by Popular Science Magazine as the first among 10 universities where students do serious research
and career training by “blowing stuff up”. Rockets are being developed and tested on campus while
students indeed reach for the stars.
Picture 1: Map of UAH campus. The Police Department is located in the Intermodal Facility.
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2. The University of Alabama in Huntsville Police Department (UAHPD)
In the middle of this modern, technology-focused setting is the UAH Police Department with seventeen
sworn officers and twelve support staff. The department is the smallest of all three police departments
of the University of Alabama System, operates independently from the other departments, and is part of
the university’s Department of Facilities and Operations. The campus is patrolled 24/7.
Picture 2:
The Police Department is located in
the center of campus in the
Intermodal Facility on John Wright
Drive.
Picture 3:
A Chevrolet Tahoe, used by patrol
officers, in front of Huntsville’s Rocket
& Shuttle Park.
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3. Department Organization
UAHPD is led by a Chief of Police who is supported by a Captain and a Lieutenant. While the Captain
oversees Operations and Patrol, the Lieutenant supervises the Communications Section, Parking
Enforcement, and the Administrative Records Section. Four Sergeants are assigned, three who each
manage a patrol shift. One Sergeant is exclusively appointed as a criminal investigator.
Michael Snellgrove
(Chief of Police)
Operations
Administration
Investigations
(Captain)
(Lieutenant)
(Sergeant)
3 Shift Supervisors
(Sergeants)
10 Patrol Officers
3 Parking
Enforcement Staff
7 Dispatchers
2 Public Safety
Assistants
(Students)
2 Administrative
Assistants
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Picture 4:
Patrol Officers pose for a photo at the
central campus flag pole plaza.
The department uses Chevrolet
Tahoes and Dodge Chargers as patrol
vehicles. During warmer months
officers will use bicycles, which allow
them to patrol areas off campus
roads.
4. UAHPD Communication Center
Picture 5:
The Communications Center is
equipped with modern radio
communications technology and
security cameras. It is fully
interoperable with other 1st
responders.
The Communications Center, located in the Intermodal Facility, is staffed around the clock by two
Communications Officers. All emergency and non-emergency communication is handled in this section.
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5. Ongoing Training and Specialized Training
Officers undergo state mandated training each year to maintain their Peace Officer Certification as
required by law. In addition, they attend specialized training required by the department for career
development. Examples of training include, but may not be limited to:
Community Policing
Field Training Officer
Range Officer Certifications
Sexual Assault Investigations
Leadership & Instructor
Accident Investigations
RADAR enforcement
Criminal Investigations
Building Clearings
Suicide Prevention
Interview & Interrogation
Report Writing
First Aid and CPR
Crime Prevention Strategies
TASER Instructor
Rape & Aggression Defense Instructor
LEOKA Training
FBI Officer Survival Courses
Non-sworn staff, such as Communication Officers, receives ongoing training in the following areas:
APCO training for Dispatch
NCIC Certification
Active Shooter Training
CAD / RMS Computer Training
Fingerprint Training
ACJIC & ALACOP
6. Parking Enforcement: reduction of violations through education
The Parking Management Enforcement Division was created in the late summer of 2012. Its mission is
to reduce the number of violations through education and compliance. A current UAH Parking
Enforcement informational clip can be viewed at:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvMub_EWCkM.
The office is staffed by two parking enforcement officers and one office assistant. Through informational
and educational programs, flyers, and a combination of officers’ presence and enforcement of parking
regulations, the number of violations was reduced by over 65% from inception until 2014.
Picture 6:
Parking Enforcement patrols the
parking area in front of Morton Hall,
the oldest building on campus,
located on Ben Graves Drive.
Picture 7:
An information table in the
University Fitness Center during
National Police Week, 2013,
helped
emphasize
the
department’s philosophy, and
strategies.
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7. Strategies: a combination of community outreach, prevention, education, and enforcement
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS
CRIME PREVENTION
STRATEGIES
LAW
ENFORCMENT
School Programming
Programs
Community Policing
Traffic Enforcement
Pre-School Safety
Fatal Vision
Patrols in dorms
Speed Enforcement
Trunk or Treat
Operation ID
Officer’s Presence in
campus buildings
Stop-Sign Enforcement
Rise School Safety
BookMark
Crosswalk Enforcement
Ride-Along-Program
College Instruction
Rip-off Cards
DUI Enforcement
RAD
Patrol Strategies
Publications
Bicycle Safety
Investigations
Police Presence Points
Monthly Newsletter
Student Orientation
Accident Investigations
Parking Zone Checks
Monthly Table Top Tips
International Student
Orientation
Building Patrols
On Line Info
Crime Analysis
Traffic Warnings
Analysis of crime
occurrence on campus
to effectively apply
resources and reduce
crime.
University Events
Criminal Investigations
(independently
and
together with our local
law
enforcement
partners)
National Police Week
Officer Dunking Booth
Jail & Bail
YouTube clips
(see section 5)
Campus Security Tips
Programs
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Programs
Student Escort Service
Crime Alerts
Charger-Watch
Silent Witness
Daily Crime Logs
Safe Holiday Parking
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Parking Enforcement
Enforcement of parking
regulations on campus
property.
Picture 8:
Communication Officers display their support for
curbing crimes on campus, such as Domestic
Violence and Sexual Abuse.
Picture 9:
Officer Dunking Booth during the 2013
Week of Welcome in front of the University
Center proved to be a very popular
attraction for students.
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Picture 10:
Children on campus learn at a very young
age that police officers are here to help.
Picture 11:
UAHPD supports Concerns of Police
Survivors each year with the Blue Ribbon
Campaign.
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Picture 12:
Halloween 2013: Trunk-Or-Treat event for
UAH’s community.
8. Emergency Phones
The ubiquitous Blue Light Emergency Phones are strategically located throughout campus and connect
the caller directly with the UAH PD Communication Center.
Picture 13:
Solar powered Blue Light Phone at UAH’s
lake area on John Wright Drive.
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9.
Reduction of Crime – Strategic application of resources
During the first half of 2013, the campus experienced an increase in the number of vehicles burglarized
and theft offenses in parking areas on campus. In response, a new tactic was introduced to address
these occurrences. In the early summer of 2013, strategically selected locations, defined as Police
Presence Points, and the division of UAH’s campus in Parking Area Zones, was implemented. Through
the combination of both strategies, crime in campus parking areas has decreased by 42%
Police Presence Point (PPP)
A PPP, defined as a specific location on campus which is known to be a point of access for the
public to university property. The purpose of the PPPs is to discourage criminally minded
individuals planning to commit a crime on campus, to enter in the first place. Patrol Officers
remain at each of the five established PPP’s for a period of time during their shift to increase
police visibility and deter crime. Additional temporary PPP’s can be established when an
incident demands police presence. The public and the university community have recognized
the increased presence and have provided positive feedback to officers.
Parking Area Zones (PAZ)
UAH’s campus is now divided into three PAZ’s. Each patrol officer checks the assigned area at
least three times during his shift. This coordinated presence has increased officers’ visibility and
significantly reduced crime in campus parking areas.
10. Vision
UAHPD is currently evaluating a plan which will include campus buildings in concept of Police Presence
Points and Parking Area Zones. It is a goal of the department to focus on deterring crime inside
buildings.
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