Public Safety

University of Cincinnati Police FAQ

The current department was created when UC changed to a state university in 1977. Prior to that, UC was a municipal university, and it also had a police department.

UCPD has 72 sworn officers and 26 security officers.

See document: Use of Force Policy

Yes. UC Police officers complete all training required by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, which sets training standards for all police officers in the State of Ohio. UC police officers receive more than 1,200 hours of training before they are allowed to patrol. This includes more than 600 hours of training through the police academy curriculum. Upon their hiring, UC officers complete 80 hours of new hire training and then receive 14 weeks of field training. Additionally, UC officers complete annual continuing education classes. In 2021, UC police officers will receive a minimum of 80 hours of in-service training.

UCPD’s training was revamped after July 2015. Our training calendar provides diversity training annually. Our officers undergo Fair and Impartial Policing training when they are hired, and attend annual training on that material. In addition, our officers attend Bias Free Policing, Integration of Communication Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) and Verbal Defense and Influence (VDI) bi-annually. Our officers receive formal de-escalation training bi-annually, and de-escalation is built into use of force training, which occurs every year. We work with UC’s Office of Equity, Inclusion & Community Impact to provide courses for our officers in diversity and cultural sensitivity.  For example, in the past few years everyone has received Understanding Implicit Bias; Anti-Harassment & Non-Discrimination; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 101; Emotional Intelligence & Diversity; and Informed Discussions.  We will continue to provide these courses as they are available. Finally, our mission and core principles are intertwined into all training we provide our officers.

The UC Police, much like many other police agencies, follow established standards for the hiring of new officers. Applicants must pass a physical agility test, written exam, an extensive criminal and employment background check, polygraph, and psychological evaluation. Applicants are also expected to participate in several interviews, including an in-home interview.

UC has a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Cincinnati. UC Police have patrolled the areas near the UC because approximately 87 percent of our 46,000 students live off campus with thousands living in neighborhoods immediately surrounding UC's Uptown Campus.

October, 2014. The university is an early adopter of body cameras. The use of body cameras is a proactive step to ensure transparency in support of patrolling beyond our campus borders.

All of Ohio’s four-year public universities have their own police forces. In fact, hundreds of universities across the country house on-campus police departments. Campus police departments are often necessary because campuses represent a large population in a limited geographic area, and there is often significant demand for public safety services. The University of Cincinnati is like a “city within a city,” hosting over 1,000 events each year, enrolling more than 46,000 students, and employing more than 10,000 faculty and staff. All college campuses must also comply with federal requirements targeted specifically at colleges.

In addition to the Memorandum of Understanding (mentioned earlier), UCPD and CPD leaders meet regularly to review crime statistics, discuss trends and collaboratively strategize on the best tactics to reduce crime and improve public safety in areas surrounding UC’s Uptown campus. A nightly debriefing also occurs between third shift lieutenants from UCPD and CPD to ensure seamless communication and to plan coordinated patrols.