Patrol | Detective | Property | Communication

Patrol Division

The majority of the Southeast Missouri State University Police Department's personnel are assigned to the Patrol Division. The officers are trained, state certified, peace officers, most of whom hold a bachelors degree in criminal justice or related fields. Officers are state certified and hold police commissions through the State of Missouri and the City of Cape Girardeau. The Department has the primary responsibility for all law enforcement and safety on campus, and has developed a close working relationship with the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. This working relationship with local authorities allows the Department to monitor activities of students at off-campus student organization locations. The Department maintains a liaison with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Take a look at the Patrol Division's Training Page.

The Department of Public Safety has University Police Officers on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, working on foot patrol and vehicle patrol throughout campus.

A University Police Officer responds to all reported crimes and investigates in a timely manner. Violations of local, state, and federal law are referred for prosecution. Violations of University Policy are forwarded to the Student Affairs Division, Judicial Review System.

Detective Division

The Detective Division at the Southeast Missouri State University Police Department is responsible for conducting follow-up investigations of reports initiated by the Patrol Division and reports made directly to the Detective Division. Detectives coordinate intelligence information, assist with administrative investigations and conduct criminal investigations for presentation to state and municipal prosecutors. The University Police Department is a member of the Cape Girardeau / Bollinger Counties Major Case Squad. University Police Detectives are assigned and serve on the Major Case Squad.
Crime Statistics

Evidence & Property Division

The Evidence Division at Southeast Missouri State University Police Department is responsible for the collection and preservation of evidence during criminal investigations. The Evidence Division works closely with Officers assigned to the Patrol Division and the Detective Division. The Evidence Division also works with members of the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Laboratory when evidence must be analyzed prior to court proceedings.

The Evidence Division is also the repository for lost or stolen items found on University property. Follow-up investigations are conducted to ensure the found property is returned to its rightful owner.

If you have lost something on campus, you may call the Department of Public Safety at ext. 2215 to see if the item has been turned in. Found Southeast Missouri State identification cards are turned over to Vending Services.

Communication Division

The Communications Division of the Dept. of Public Safety is responsible for the answering of 911 calls, the monitoring of campus alarms, as well as the dispatching of emergency services.

When should I call Emergency 911?
Call 911 when there is a crime in progress, a fire, a medical emergency, when someone is in physical danger or in other situations in which help is required immediately. When reporting an emergency, the following information will be needed:

1. the caller's name and phone number
2. location of the emergency
3. type of emergency, injuries
4. number of victims
5. age(s) of victim(s)

For more information on the history and development of the 911 system, consult the National Emergency Number Association at 740-622-8911, or refer to their web page by clicking here. The University has installed emergency call boxes throughout the campus. These phones are strategically placed around campus, easily visible and will connect you directly to campus police. For more information on the emergency call boxes, click here.

If I have a problem but it's not an emergency, who should I call?
For those situations in which the immediate intervention of emergency personnel is not required, call 651-2215, the 24 hour general information line of the University Police Department. If you live in a municipality, call your municipal police department. When reporting a situation which is not an emergency, the following information will be needed:

1. caller's name and phone number
2. location of the incident
3. type of incident
4. number of persons involved

Road and weather conditions are monitored by DPS and information on these can be obtained 24 hours a day at the general information line.

Information on parking and the University shuttles can be found by clicking here, or by calling the DPS general information line, 651-2215. For more information on the city of Cape Girardeau, click here.