Welcome

The University of Montevallo Police Department would like to welcome everyone back for the start of the 2009-2010 school year. We are looking forward to a safe and productive school year where everyone can strive to achieve their set goals.

Message from the Chief

On behalf of the UM Department of Public Safety, I would like to welcome you to a new school year and all the excitement and enthusiasm that it brings. As we mark the beginning of a year that will be filled with new opportunities and experiences, I want to remind Faculty, Staff and Students of our commitment to work together in providing the safest environment possible.  To ensure this commitment,  UMPD continuously addresses campus and community safety with new and innovative programming, educational efforts, technological advances and the best trained campus law enforcement staff in the area. With our expansive Community Oriented Policing  techniques, on and off-campus outreach efforts and safety programs, we continue to set the standard in excellence among campus law enforcement departments.

Resident students, as you make or prepare to make the transition to residence hall living,  it is important to remember that your safety and security requires a great partnership among student residents, Housing and Residence Life staff and UMPD. It is of the utmost importance to immediately create strong safety and security habits and to go beyond your own residence, taking a stake in your overall campus community. I encourage you to become actively involved in these efforts by attending self-defense and other safety-related programs, routinely utilizing campus safety escorts and contacting the police department with questions or concerns. Remember that UMPD is available 24 hours a day, with officers providing extensive patrolling of the campus community. By working together, we can make this an exciting and safe school year.

University Traffic Citations

Starting on September 1, 2009, UMPD implemented the writing of University of Montevallo Moving Citations. The moving citations are an addition to UM parking citations. The addition of University Moving Citations will give UMPD officers an option on  traffic stops other than writing Uniform Traffic Citations which are state tickets. University Moving Citations can be given for numerous traffic offenses that occur on University property. What this means for the campus community is that if a UMPD officer initiates  a traffic stop on you  and you are on property belonging to the University of Montevallo the officer can choose to write you a University Moving Citation rather than issuing a State Uniform Traffic Citation. To find out more about these citations pick up a current copy of The Fledgling or contact the University of Montevallo Police Department at (205) 665-6155.

Fall 2009 Parking Decals

The decision was made to make revisions to the current parking policies at the University of Montevallo, which included new parking stickers for UM commuter and resident students. The stickers are required for all UM resident and commuter students. The decal should be placed on the lower right corner of the front windshield on the passenger side of each vehicle.

Current and newly hired faculty/staff, emeriti and individuals with disabilities will continue to purchase a hangtag. The change to stickers will assist the UM Police Department with identifying UM students in the event they need to be contacted by university officials to move their vehicle if needed or required. The cost for the decals this fall is $25.00, the same price for parking last year. The decals are valid for one year, expiring August 15, 2010. Failure to purchase a parking decal may result in the receipt of parking citations. For more information on the new parking decal, you can contact the UM Police Department at (205) 665-6155 or umpolice@montevallo.edu.

UMPD Initiates Student Patrol

UMPD recently started a Student Patrol Program. The program employs student workers to perform certain duties that are not directly related to law enforcement. The duties include, but are not limited to, locking and unlocking buildings, writing parking citations, escorting female students after hours and  dispatching for UM Police. Student Patrol employees can be seen on the UM Police golf cart or doing foot patrol around campus. UMPD currently has three student patrol employees.

The University Police Department feels that this program can and will be a great asset not only to our department but to the University as a whole. It takes everyone working together to maintain a safe campus environment and having non uniformed employees has been beneficial. Anyone interested in the Student Patrol Program should email Albert Jones at jonesa@montevallo.

Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety

Pedestrian safety is a serious issue not only on college campuses but any where there may be heavy foot traffic. One out of six traffic fatalities is a pedestrian. Every intersection has a pedestrian crosswalk whether or not there are painted lines on the street. A crosswalk is that portion of the pavement where the sidewalk lines would extend across the street, and it is set aside for pedestrian safety. Drive with caution when approaching a crosswalk. Be on the lookout for pedestrians and be prepared to stop. Most pedestrians enter a crosswalk expecting the driver of a vehicle to stop. The driver may not have his or her full attention on the road while driving, doing other things such as talking on the cell phone or changing a CD. Pedestrians generally have the right of way while at a curb or in a crosswalk. This means that all traffic including cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles and golf carts must stop when a pedestrian is in or about to enter a crosswalk. Vehicles should remain stopped until the pedestrian has fully crossed the street. The bottom line is that vehicles and pedestrians must share the roadway. Be on the lookout for each other and stay safe.

UMPD Transportation Services

The UM Police Department recently began an auxiliary transportation service for UM students that cannot provide their own transportation. Included in this service is transportation to and from the local doctor's office and pharmacy. Students with medical needs may also be provided transportation under certain circumstances that are approved and coordinated with UMPD and Student Support Services.

Alfred Kojima is currently holding the Transportation Services position with UMPD. The addition of this position provides additional support to the police department, allowing officers to concentrate on security and safety issues on campus, while a needed service is provided to the campus community as a whole. For more information on this service, please contact the UM Police Department at 665-6155 or by email at umpolice@montevallo.edu.

R.A.D Training

Women interested in enrolling in R.A.D. courses offered by the UM Police Department should contact the UMPD at 665-6155 or email umpolice@montevallo.edu

Remember, enrollment priority is given to University of Montevallo students, faculty, and staff and is handled on a first come, first served basis.