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About the University Police

Police

 

The WCU Police Department is a full-service agency that is available 24 hours a day, throughout the year.

The Department works towards building partnerships with the university community to provide a safe environment to achieve our academic mission. We are proud to be a part of a dynamic university in a growing region.

The Police Department may be contacted at 828.227.7301 (non-emergency) or 828.227.8911 (emergency) for information or requests for services.

Additionally, during emergencies, individuals may dial 9-1-1 from their cellular telephones and report an emergency to the Jackson County Communications Center who in turn will relay the information to the WCU Emergency Services Communication Center.

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Mission and Vision

Our mission is to provide professional community-oriented police service. We are committed to creating and maintaining an active community partnership and assisting the community in identifying and solving problems to improve the quality of lives on our campus. We are dedicated to protecting life, property, and maintaining order while assuring fair and equal treatment to everyone. We respect the cultural and ethnic diversity of our University.

Vision

The WCU Police Department is a proactive police agency dedicated to excellence through quality community service. We insure quality community service through accountability to each other and the citizens, who are the source of our authority. We maintain the quality professionalism of employees through training, development, and education for personal and professional growth with a constant emphasis on innovation and improvement.

Values

We are capable, caring people doing important and satisfying work for the citizens of our community. Therefore, we respect, care about, trust and support each other.  We enjoy our work and take pride in our accomplishments. We are disciplined and reliable. We keep our perspective and sense of humor. We balance our professional and personal lives. We involve our community in decisions that we make. We have a positive, can do attitude.  We cultivate our best characteristics: initiative, enthusiasm, creativity, patience, competence, and judgment.  We do nothing to discredit or dishonor ourselves or our department.

Training

Police Trainings

 

The Western Carolina University Police Department (WCUPD) is comprised of professional commissioned police officers and support staff. WCUPD officers receive the same initial level of training as municipal and county law enforcement officers. Officers are required to complete over 700 hours of training at a regional police academy and pass a statewide examination to become certified as a police officer in the state of North Carolina. Additionally, our officers exceed the continuing education and training requirements of the state. WCUPD police officers are certified through the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Learn More About Police Training

Mutual Aid Agreements

WCUPD officers are authorized to carry firearms, enforce laws, and make arrests on University property and adjacent roadways. Through our Mutual Aid Agreements, WCUPD works closely with the Sylva Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol to enhance the safety and protection of members of the university community and the surrounding area. The Department works closely with the Department of Student Community Ethics and the Residential Living Department in enforcing the Student Code of Conduct.

Learn More About Mutual Aid Agreements

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