Connecting with U
DPS Connects to Campus & Community
At the Department of Public Safety (DPS), we do more than just respond to crimes once they happen. Prevention and education are just as important when it comes to keeping our community safe. That’s why we provide a comprehensive online directory of safety tips, presentations, and in-person training programs. These resources are designed to empower the UM-Flint community to take a proactive approach to their own safety. Together we are building a culture of preparedness.
DPS Volunteers In Policing Program
The Volunteers in Policing program is a partnership with AmeriCorps “RSVP” and has been developed to meet the changing needs of the university and downtown Flint communities and to further promote the philosophy of Problem-Oriented Policing. This program is one of many which are designed to increase the safety and security of UM-Flint and the downtown area.
The VIP program consists of committed volunteers, such as veterans and other retired members of our community who work in conjunction with, and at the direction of, UM-Flint’s Department of Public Safety. The Garden Project and River Trail Watchers are the primary activities of the Volunteers in Policing program.
VIP will provide additional eyes, ears, smiles and assistance while enhancing the quality of life in downtown Flint.
DPS Connection Officer Program
DPS has established a community-oriented policing service that we call Connection Officer Program (COP). COP uses a customer service-focused approach to meeting the safety needs of the community we serve. Our goal is to be more accessible and approachable by members of our campus community while providing efficient and effective services to the campus that we serve.
Our community policing philosophy is at the foundation for all of our operational strategies. It emphasizes the establishment of police-community partnerships and a problem-solving approach that is responsive to the needs of our campus community. One of the major objectives of our COP efforts is to establish an active partnership between DPS and the various campus community groups that, while working together, can evaluate problems and design and help implement solutions that are community-based. This requires us to make a conscious effort to create a culture in which our community partners actively and willingly partner with DPS.
There is a DPS Connection Officer assigned to a number of the large formal groups on campus. From First Street Housing to Student Government, a Connection Officer is currently working to build long-lasting and effective relationships built on mutual respect and trust. In fact, we just opened a COP office at First Street Housing!
The Connection Officer Program rests on the ideas of empowerment, creating a sense of joint responsibility and commitment to a safe campus. We recognize and acknowledge that this effort will require time, training, and commitment from both our DPS personnel and our campus community.
More information regarding the Connection Officer Program can be found here.