The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) is the primary law enforcement agency serving the University of Maryland, College Park, located in Prince George's County, Maryland. As of 2017, the department's maximum strength is 104 sworn officers, and ___ full-time civilian employees. The University of Maryland Police Department holds primary jurisdiction over the approximate 1,300 acres of campus property, and serves a campus community of approximately 60,000 members in addition to approximately 30,000 permanent residents of the City of College Park. The agency works very closely with surrounding law enforcement agency in the performance of its duties, which frequently includes the Prince George's County Police Department.
The University of Maryland Police Department, an organization component of the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety (UMPDS), is an internationally-accredited police agency through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), recently receiving the "Gold Standard" Award in 2014.
University of Maryland Police Department | |
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The University of Maryland Police, College Park uniform patch. | |
The badge of the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD). | |
Flag of the University of Maryland Police Department | |
Common name | University of Maryland Police |
Abbreviation | UMPD |
Agency overview | |
Formed | July 1st, 1975 |
Employees | Approximately 165 total |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Maryland, U.S. |
Map of University of Maryland Police Department's jurisdiction | |
Size | 4.5 square miles (12 km2) |
Population | est. 85,000 |
Legal jurisdiction | University System of Maryland |
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | College Park, Maryland |
Police Officers | 104 |
Agency executive |
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Website | |
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History
editThe University of Maryland Police Department traces it's roots back to sometime between 1935 and 1936, when it began as the "Maryland Campus Police" under the leadership of Doctor Byrd, former President of the University of Maryland. At the time, the Maryland Campus Police had limited police authority, similar to armed Special Police Officers (SPO) of today. The department was comprised of 2 officers, one of these officers Daniel B. Wiseman, who would eventually become the very first Chief of Police of the University of Maryland Police.
In 1945, almost 10 years after it began, the Maryland Campus Police hired more officers, additionally having their police powers increased in order to accommodate the change over from an agriculturally-focused college to a University. The first police station was established in the North Gatehouse, one of the Gatehouses located at the various entrances to the campus, while Chief Wiseman had his office in the General Services Building. By 1954, Chief Wiseman headed the organization with two clerks, four watchmen and eight officers.
Authority
editJurisdiction
editOrganization
editThe University of Maryland Police Department, like many law enforcement agencies in the Unites States, is a paramilitary organizaiton sturctured as follows:
- Department (Commanded by Chief / Director of Public Safety)
- Bureau (Commanded by Major)
- Division (Commanded by Captain)
- Section (Commanded by Lieutenant)
- Unit/Team/Squad (Commanded by Sergeant)
- Section (Commanded by Lieutenant)
- Division (Commanded by Captain)
- Bureau (Commanded by Major)
The agency is divided into two bureaus, with various divisions, sections, units & teams within each.