Department of Public Safety Services

Campus Escort Service
The Campus Escort Service (CES) is free. All escorts wear a photo ID and have communication with University Police. CES escorts students from campus to any one location within Bowling Green city limits, or from any one location off-campus, within city limits, to campus. To arrange for an escort, phone 419-372-8360.

Crime Connection Hotline
Crime Connection is a campus hotline you can call anonymously to report crimes in progress on campus, or to give information regarding a crime that has already been committed. If your tip leads to the identification of the perpetrator, you may be eligible to receive a cash reward. Call Crime Connection at 419-372-6000.

Shuttle/Van Service
The University shuttle/on-call van service is available seven days a week. There is a "main shuttle" route, a "night express," and the on-call "2-RIDE" shuttle, which replaces the shuttle after 3 a.m. Click here for shuttle routes and times.

Operation ID
Fluorescent invisible marking pens and personal registration cards are available to any faculty, staff member, or student who wishes to have a record of personal, University-owned, or controlled office equipment. Call 419-372-2346 for more information.

Building Security
The Department of Public Safety maintains security of all buildings on the main campus and other facilities located off campus. University maintenance personnel inspect campus facilities and grounds regularly, make repairs, and respond to reports of potential safety and security hazards such as broken windows and locks.

Campus Service Officers
The Department of Public Safety annually employs Campus Service Officers (CSO). These students assist University Police with security of campus buildings and property. The CSOs are responsible for checking interior and exterior doors and locks of campus buildings and campus parking areas. Using a department-issued radio, they are trained to report criminal or suspicious activity.

Residential Units
University housing facilities are restricted to residents and invited guests. Only residents and authorized University personnel have keys to housing units. The primary responsibility for ensuring that the exterior doors of a living unit are secure rests with the residents. All exterior doors of living units, except the main entrance or other designated doors, are locked at all times. Door propping is a violation of the Community Living Standards located in the Student Handbook. Only residents or guests accompanied by a resident, showing identification, may enter a living unit after midnight.

Student Clerks
In addition to University police, the Office of Residence Life, within the Division of Student Affairs, hires student clerks to help oversee on-campus housing. A student clerk is assigned to the main entrance of each residence hall from midnight until 8 a.m., while two or more student clerks make rounds throughout the building. Student clerks check for doors that have been propped open, suspicious activity, vandalism, and other unauthorized activity.

Officer Liaison Program
Teams of University Police officers are assigned to residence halls, including on-campus Greek houses and other small group living units, to provide police contact, crime prevention, and safety and security information to students and Residence Life staff.

Bike Registration
Bicycles are required to be registered by city ordinance and can be marked to aid in theft prevention and to assist in identification. Stop in the Parking & Traffic Office, 104 Commons, 419-372-2776 for more details, or register online.

"Quik-Alert"
"Quik-Alert" is a list of phone numbers for commonly used credit card companies, local banks, law enforcement agencies, driver's license bureaus, and social security offices. If your wallet is lost or stolen, this makes it easier to report the loss and obtain replacements. Please call the BGSU Police Department at 419-372-2346 for more information.

Crime Prevention Education
Public Safety personnel facilitate crime prevention speeches, demonstrations, and programs throughout the year. The most popular programs are Rape Prevention & Awareness, Personal Safety, Self Defense, Vehicle Safety, Theft Prevention, Bicycle Theft Prevention, Traveling Alone, Alcohol & Drug Prevention, Underage Consumption Laws and Penalties, and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated laws.

Lighting Surveys
Staff tour the campus to determine where additional exterior lighting may be needed, replaced, or repaired.

 

Vision

The vision of the BGSU Department of Public Safety is a safe and secure campus that demonstrates openness, trust, honest and integrity and respects differences in ideas, people and lifestyles. These same qualities will be reflected in the Department of Public Safety's leadership, personnel, programs and services, and its image, both on and off campus

Mission

The mission of BGSU's Department of Public Safety is to ensure a safe and secure, and orderly campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors at Bowling Green State University, thereby contributing toward a positive learning environment.

University Police recognizes and supports, in action and in spirit, the mission of Bowling Green State University. We continually strive to improve the quality of service the campus community receives. We actively investigate problems and incidents and search for positive solutions that will support a sense of security throughout the campus.

Reporting to the University's Vice President for Financial Affairs, the department is staffed by 22 police officers who have full police authority and meet all state law enforcement standards. The department provides law enforcement, security, regulates parking and traffic, shuttle service, campus escort service, motor vehicle services and educational programs for the campus community.

Uniformed officers patrol the campus 24 hours each day using marked police cars, bicycle, and foot patrols. All police officers are armed and receive extensive training in the use of deadly force. BGSU officers have completed state mandated training and are state certified.

The Ohio Revised Code (Section 3345.04) grants the University authority to designate employees as police officers who take an oath to uphold the rules of the institution and laws of the state. These officers are empowered to arrest any offender and bring that person before the local court system for judgment.

University police work in conjunction with Bowling Green City Police through a mutual aid agreement. BGSU police cooperates with all local police authorities, state authorities and federal authorities in the exercise of its responsibilities. It is the policy of Public Safety to encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crime to police.

The Office of Student Life, Associate Dean of Students for Judicial Affairs, is responsible for on-campus student disciplinary proceedings. BGSU police and the Office of Judicial Affairs work collaboratively to resolve incidents of student misconduct that affect University policy and procedures.

BGSU Police investigates incidents of a criminal nature and initiates, before a court of law, any required legal action. If needed, assistance is available from Bowling Green City Police, Wood County Sheriff's Department, Ohio State Patrol, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In addition to sworn police officers, Public Safety employs a modest student security staff that provide services for the University community. The members of this unit do not have statutory arrest powers, but work to assist police with security matters.

BGSU maintains an open campus environment and encourages the community to participate in activities that are open to the public. However, the University reserves the right to restrict unauthorized persons from its grounds when appropriate.