Stanford Public Safety Services
The Stanford University Department of Public Safety is a multi-service agency providing law enforcement, security, safety, crime prevention, and emergency services on the Stanford campus 24 hours a day. Public Safety employs sworn personnel holding the rank of Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Chief as well as non-sworn Community Service Officers, Special Events Personnel and Support Staff. Public Safety's law enforcement division works closely and cooperatively with federal, state and local agencies on problems of mutual concern. Criminal arrest cases occurring on the main campus are submitted to the Office of the Santa Clara County District Attorney, which possesses the legal authority to commence prosecution. Public Safety is located at 711 Serra Street, next to the Fire Station, at the corner of Campus Drive and Serra Street. The business phone number is (650) 723-9633.
Personnel
Stanford Deputy Sheriffs derive their peace officer powers through an agreement between Stanford University and the Sheriff of Santa Clara County. While on-duty, Stanford deputies have full law enforcement powers to make arrests, enforce all applicable federal, state, and local laws and provide any other law enforcement services pursuant to section 830.6 of the California Penal Code. The training received by Stanford deputies meets California State standards for full-function Peace Officers. The training program includes twenty-four (24) weeks of police academy training, and a minimum of sixteen (16) weeks of supervised field training, followed by a continuous regimen of inservice, specialty, and advanced training.
Community Service Officers (CSO) are non-sworn personnel who perform security, parking enforcement and traffic control functions. Pursuant to PC §837, PSOs, like all private persons, have the ability to arrest another person for crimes committed or attempted in their presence, for felonies not committed in their presence, and when a felony has been committed, if the private person has reasonable cause for believing the person s/he has arrested to have committed it.
Public Safety Officer (PSO) are non-sworn, full-time personnel who perform security, parking enforcement and traffic control functions. Pursuant to PC §837, PSOs, like all private persons, have the ability to arrest another person for crimes committed or attempted in their presence, for felonies not committed in their presence, and when a felony has been committed, if the private person has reasonable cause for believing the person s/he has arrested to have committed it.
Special Events Personnel (SEP) are non-sworn, parttime personnel who perform security and traffic control functions at special events on campus. Pursuant to PC §837, PSOs, like all private persons, have the ability to arrest another person for crimes committed or attempted in their presence, for felonies not committed in their presence, and when a felony has been committed, if the private person has reasonable cause for believing the person s/he has arrested to have committed it.
Student Special Events Patrol (SSEP) are student employees who assist our full-time personnel with traffic control, event security, Pedestrian Zone enforcement, bicycle abatement and special projects. Pursuant to PC §837, PSOs, like all private persons, have the ability to arrest another person for crimes committed or attempted in their presence, for felonies not committed in their presence, and when a felony has been committed, if the private person has reasonable cause for believing the person s/he has arrested to have committed it.
Administration and Records Division maintains case records and performs the requisite office management tasks of the department.
Services
Live Scan Services at Stanford
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office operates Live Scan
fingerprinting services at the Department of Public Safety. Both digitally scanned and ink-rolled
fingerprinting services are available. For questions, please call (650) 725-2499 or to schedule an
appointment go to https://sherifflivescan.sccsheriff.org/sfpnew/FingerPrintApplication.jsp
Citizen Complaint Procedure
Complaints by members of the public regarding Stanford University Department of Public Safety
personnel may be made at any time, in person, by mail, email, or by phone. The Stanford University
Department of Public Safety will investigate complaints of substandard service or alleged misconduct
by Public Safety employees. Investigations will be conducted in a timely manner with fairness and
impartiality. The Chief of Police will review completed investigations and establish appropriate
corrective measures. Complainants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their complaint.
Questions regarding the Citizen Complaint Procedure may be addressed to Stanford Police Services at
(650) 723-9633.
Timely Warnings
In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Chief of Police,
constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat to the community, a campus wide "timely warning" will be
issued. The warning may be issued through any means appropriate including: the Stanford Department
of Public Safety website, campus and local newspapers, email lists,
notification to Residential and Dining Enterprises, University Departments and/or Schools.
Community Police Academy
Our goal is to build trust and develop a partnership between the police department and the Stanford
community. The objective is not to make police officers out of the participants, but to expand the
participant's knowledge of the duties, responsibilities, decisions, and constraints that face law
enforcement officers. This 9-week course is a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on activities
that will give the participants the opportunity to stand in an officer's shoes.
Community Outreach
The Stanford Department of Public Safety has a long tradition of providing a wide variety of community
services. Our goal with the Community Outreach Programs is to create a dialogue with the community,
maintain open lines of communication, provide educational materials and programs, and assist
residents in reducing the opportunity for crime.
- Security Presentations - personal security, building security,
- Dialogue with a Deputy - chat with a deputy in an informal setting or over a meal to learn everything you always wanted to know about police work but were afraid to ask
- Ride-Along Program - jump into the passenger seat and patrol with a deputy
- Group Centric - presentations designed to meet the needs of your individual group or department.
- Public Safety Contact - meet the officer assigned as the liaison for your on-campus living group
- Bike Safety Programs - for student groups, work groups or elementary schools
Stanford Community Emergency Response Team (SCERT)
SCERT training is offered periodically during the year for individuals who are willing to volunteer to
respond to Stanford to assist with post-disaster response. SCERT training follows the model of the
Citizen Corps Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) with some slight modifications for the
Stanford campus environment. For more information go to scert.stanford.edu
© Stanford University. Stanford, California 94305. (650) 723-2300.