Public Safety

Crime Prevention and Reporting

The public safety department offers crime prevention programs on a wide variety of issues facing community members in their daily lives. University police provide information to students, parents and student organizations on how to protect themselves from sexual assault, theft and other crimes.

Stay Safe

In addition, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your property.

Reporting a Crime

  • Remain calm.
  • Call the emergency line at 781-736-3333.
  • Identify yourself and your location to the police dispatcher. Your identity will remain confidential, but is necessary in case more detailed information about the incident is needed.
  • State what is happening: robbery occurring, medical emergency, fire.
  • Identify the location of the incident: building name, room number, parking lot.
  • State who is involved: person's name or description.
  • State the suspect's direction of flight: i.e., suspect exited Usdan Student Center and ran toward the Rabb Graduate Center.
  • Stay on the telephone until the police dispatcher has recorded all of the information.

Reporting a Suspicious Person or Circumstances


When reporting a suspicious person or circumstance, the following information is helpful to the police:
  • Automobile: Make and model of vehicle, license plate number, color of vehicle, condition or outstanding characteristics, direction of travel.
  • Person: Name (if known), gender, color, age, height and weight, clothing (color and style), weapons (type), method and direction of escape.
  • Property: Type, model number and style, serial or other identifying numbers (s), and any additional identifying information.

Timely Warnings

When the Department of Public Safety becomes aware of criminal incidents that, in the judgment of the University's senior leadership, constitute an ongoing or continuing threat to the campus community, the Department of Public Safety issues a Crime Alert to notify the community.

Depending on the particular circumstances, a Timely Warning will be issued by the Department of Public Safety, and the information may be disseminated by using one or a combination of the following: Email distribution, various campus postings/fliers; and or the activation of the Emergency Notification System (BENS) to advise the community of the situation.

Updated: 8/15/2022