News

The UMPD Self Defense Program for Spring of 2024 has reached enrollment capacity and the waiting list is full.  We appreciate all who have expressed interest in this program.  There will be another course offered in the Fall 2024 semester and we are tentatively considering a class this summer as well.  Please stay tuned for more information.  If you have any questions on this program or its future offerings, contact Officer Liana Varosky at LVarosky@umass.edu

Interested in law enforcement? UMPD is accepting applications for entry level police officers! If you are not a full time police officer and do not currently hold a POST accepted full time academy certificate, and will need to attend the Massachusetts Police Training Council Police Academy, click the link below. To find out more about the employment and selection process we use, please visit the careers page. If after reading the information you have questions, please email us at UMPDrecruiting@umass.edu. Applications are not being accepted at this time for entry level officers, we will reopen this process soon. 

Details - University Police Officer-Entry Level | Human Resources | UMass Amherst

We also have opportunities for current full time officers to lateral to UMPD, click on link below to apply.

Details - University Police Officer - Lateral | Human Resources | UMass Amherst

If you are looking to be a dispatcher, UMPD would love to have you as part of the team! Click link below to apply.

Details - Communications Dispatcher II - UMPD | Human Resources | UMass Amherst

 

 

 

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the UMass PD with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.  

 

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA Accreditation.

 

Click the URL to make a comment https://cimrs2.calea.org/112

Adventure Academy participants

Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders have the chance to form friendships and build relationships with local police officers through the Youth Adventure Academy (YAA). Visit the YAA photo gallery. See all UMPD event photo galleries.

Thank you for taking the time to watch this active training video, designed to help the UMass Amherst community plan for a perilous incident. In addition to viewing this video,the University offers a variety of other resources to enhance your safety and personal well-being.

Read more about our Active Threat Program. The UMass Police offer group active-threat training upon request. Complete our Training Request Form or contact Officer Brian Kellogg.

Please make sure you sign up for UMass Amherst emergency text alerts.

umpd mounted officer

UMPD is currently hiring both entry level and lateral (experienced) officers. 

Please see our 'Careers' page for information about both positions, application deadlines, and application instructions.

We are now accepting applications for the position of UMPD Emergency Dispatcher!  Please check our Careers page for further information and a link to the online application.  

Below is an account of an incident that happened to a UMass student today. Be advised that NO Police Department will ever call you and request/demand money over the phone. If this happens to you please contact your local Police Department. 

 

Hi,

I am a student at UMass and I would like to report a scam phone call I received today.

The call came from the number 508-xxx-2222.

 

When I answered, a person with Indian accent introduced himself as an officer with the Middleborough police department saying that someone had filed charges against me.

The person knew my first and last name.

He then said he was going to pass the call to his lieutenant and another male person with Indian accent introduced himself (I forgot the name he gave me).

 

This person said that there were some claims against me coming from the IRS and proceeded to read what the charges were. 

He had a very thick accent and I couldn't really understand what he was saying. After reading the "charges" he said I could face a lawsuit and lose all my degrees or pay a fine of $7,000.

When I told them to email me the charges and that I was not doing anything without them talking to my attorney, they hanged up.

 

I'm reporting this because someone who is new in the school or the country could fall for this. It would be nice if someone could follow up and find out more about these people.

I'm a UMass Police Officer, and I love my job. It's always something new. It's always something different. It's always something challenging.

You have the benefit for extensive developmental training in the summer and the opportunity of community policing. 

It's not necessarily standard employment. It's a calling. I answered the call. I really do enjoy serving the community and helping people.

I wouldn't want be anything else other than a police officer. It has direct impact on people, and I think I'm making the world a better place.

Interested? Learn more about a career with UMPD. Apply online at careers.umass.edu.

UMPD Officers and officers from other agencies took part in a 3 day De-escalation training at the Umass Campus Center. The training was funded by a DOJ grant designed to help teach officers techniques de-escalate situations that have the potential to become physical. The training not only taught officers how to recognize individuals under stress and how to talk to them, but also how to recognize when they are under stress as well. If officers are better able to recognize these situations a peaceful outcome will be more likely. This training was taught by Blue Shield Tactical. Click the link for a news article and video.


June 24, 2019


Contact: Lt. Thomas W. O’Donnell Jr. 413-545-3578

AMHERST, Mass. – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive in Amherst July 8-10 to examine all aspects of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Police Department’s (UMPD) policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Tyrone Parham announced today.

Verification by the team that UMPD meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation, a sought-after recognition of public safety professional excellence. UMPD was awarded national accreditation in 2012.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Tuesday, July 9, at 1 p.m. in the UMass Police Department’s Community Room 24, 585 East Pleasant St., Amherst.

Individuals who cannot speak at the public information session may make comments by telephone to the assessment team. The public may call 413-577-6400 on Tuesday, July 9, between 2-4 p.m.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the UMass Police Department.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the UMass Amherst Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation may send them to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

The assessors are team leader former Chief Paul Verrecchia with the College of Charleston of Charleston, S.C. and Kristin Rightler with the Juniper, Fla. Police Department. Once the CALEA assessors complete their review of the agency, they report their findings to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted reaccredited status.

Accreditation is for four years, during which UMPD must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

 

CONTACT

UMPD
585 East Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003-9600

umpd@admin.umass.edu
413-545-2121 non-emergency
413-545-3111 emergency or 911
413-545-3113 fax

Tips

Call 413-577-TIPS (8477) or use our Anonymous Witness Form.