Program Highlights
The University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) Police Department continues to provide the highest level of public safety and law enforcement services to the campus community. All of the units outlined below remain critical to the department’s mission in maintaining for the safety and welfare of the campus community. For additional information regarding the UCSB Police Department, please visit our website at http://police.ucsb.edu/.
Patrol Division
The University of California Santa Barbara Police Department provides for the peace, safety, and security of persons and facilities on the university campus, properties owned, controlled, or occupied by the University of California. Utilizing a combination of both community outreach, interaction and enforcement, the Patrol Division provides twenty-four hour uniformed patrol coverage and an effective police response to all calls for service. In addition, the Patrol Division maintains a visual presence and provides designated police personnel to the adjacent community, commonly known as Isla Vista. UCSB Police Officers routinely perform preventative patrols on foot, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles (beach and rural area access), and motor-vehicles.
Problem-Solving Unit
The Problem-Solving Unit performs criminal investigations, gathers criminal intelligence, collaborates with campus stakeholders around the threat management process, and performs dignitary protection on a routine basis. This investigative unit actively participates in the Santa Barbara County Arson Task Force, Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), and works closely with the Joint Regional Information Center (JRIC). In addition, the Problem-Solving Unit investigates all major felonies, crimes against persons, property crimes, and general crimes. The Problem-Solving Unit also provides a myriad of community outreach programs and initiatives such as Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.), Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), and a variety of safety presentations to various groups or members of the campus community.
Bicycle/Skateboard Safety Unit
This office manages our bicycle / skateboard safety classes. People who receive citations for rolling stock violations on campus may be given the option of attending a one-hour department sponsored safety class (for a fee), or be summoned to a local traffic court and potentially pay a fine that can exceed $150.00.
Community Service Organization
The Community Service Organization (CSO) is comprised of UCSB students who work closely and collaboratively with the UCSB Police Department in providing security services to the campus community. The CSO program began in 1972 and remains a vital link between the law enforcement officers and students. Since this time, the CSO program has expanded to meet the community’s needs and currently fulfills a myriad of safety and security duties. They also provide a security presence at Davidson Library. Community Service Officers provide public assistance and personal safety escorts, complete routine security checks, detect safety hazards, routinely patrol various facilities and residence halls, and provide direct support to various special events and activities held on the campus.
Additionally, Community Service Officers provide support and assistance to the approximately 18,000 bicyclists that use the campus each day by completing bicycle registrations, manage bicycle storage, and enforce bicycle parking across the campus. The CSO Unit is a vital unit that works to provide for the safety and welfare of the campus community and enables UCSB student to work closely with the law enforcement community.
Isla Vista Foot Patrol
The Isla Vista Foot Patrol (IVFP) was initiated in 1970 in the interest of developing “community based policing” for the community of Isla Vista. The UCSB Police Department is under a Memorandum of Understanding to staff the Isla Vista Foot Patrol with UCSB Police Officers who are assigned to work directly with the Santa Barbara County Sherriff’s Department (SBSO) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). While the SBSO maintains primary jurisdiction and responsibility for Isla Vista, the UCSB Police Department and California Highway Patrol provide a cooperative role in serving the special needs of a highly diverse community. The UCSB Police Department also serves an important role in advocating and representing the university’s and student’s interests in matters related to law enforcement, safety, and security. The Isla Vista Foot Patrol delivers law enforcement services and resources via foot patrols, bicycles, and motorized vehicles.
Records Unit
The Records Unit provides information resources and law enforcement records to university departments, members of the public, and law enforcement affiliates. The Records Unit serves as the “clearing house” for information developed and recorded by most units of the Police Department. Services include police record maintenance and control; employment identification processing; records liaison with other university departments. Additionally, the Records Unit also performs the department’s crime analysis function and works to provide timely data to operational units within the department.
Property Unit
The Property Unit safeguards the custody and disposal of all police evidence, contraband, and processes all campus lost & found property. In addition, the property unit maintains, tracks, and stores equipment that is issued to Department employees.
Emergency Communications Unit
The Emergency Communications Unit provides radio and telephone support services to department and other campus personnel, first-responders, and can release emergency notifications or timely warnings to the campus community. In addition, the emergency communications center monitors life safety systems for fire, hazards, and intrusions.
In addition, the emergency communications center may perform a lock-down for some campus facilities in the event of an emergency. The emergency communications center can also place calls for service to designated campus facility maintenance personnel during evenings, weekends, and holidays for physical plant issues or concerns.