Dear Oakland Family,

On behalf of the men and women of the police department, I am happy to welcome you and your student to Oakland University. We understand that you are entrusting your student to our care and we take that responsibility very seriously. We work together with our faculty and staff to maintain a safe and secure campus, and I assure you that the safety of our students is our highest priority.

As in any community setting, individuals must make choices that maximize their personal safety and security. Therefore, the OU Police Department is taking this opportunity to familiarize you with some of the programs and services we offer. Students also have a responsibility for their own safety, and it is my most sincere hope that you will join my team in encouraging your student to be security conscious.

• Students can take a proactive role in their own security by keeping dorm rooms locked and by walking in groups while on campus, especially after dusk.
• After dark, OU has two options to help your student get to and from different locations on campus. The first is the Bear Bus. These busses pick up and drop off at predesignated points on and off campus. The SAFEwalk program provides visual accompaniment for OU students when walking on campus at night. When you request a SAFEwalk escort, a Police Officer or Police Service Aide will be dispatched to the area to ensure that you safely walk to your destination on campus.
• The Rape Aggression Defense program (RAD) is a self-defense program for women.

OU’s goal is to provide a safe and secure environment in which students can learn and grow. We take pride in our police department and in the quality services we deliver.  If we can be of any assistance during your stay at OU, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best wishes and welcome to Oakland University.

Mark B. Gordon
Chief of Police