About Us

The University Police Department is an autonomous, fully certified and operational law enforcement agency that serves New Jersey’s second largest and fastest growing university. The MSU PD is charged with the enforcement of all state and local laws, as well as university rules and regulations.  The MSU PD is also responsible for the implementation of programs and services designed to promote public safety, crime prevention and community awareness.

The department is currently staffed by 30 full-time police officers, 10 dispatchers and 1 administrative assistant.  MSU Police Officers are responsible for providing all law enforcement and emergency services to the campus community.  All Police Officers are trained and certified by the New Jersey State Police Training Commission and must attend and complete a rigorous basic training course for police officers at the Passaic County Police Academy.

The University's main campus spans through three municipalities and two counties.  Our jurisdiction includes all property the University owns, leases or otherwise controls and includes all roadways that run through and are adjacent to the University.  Our headquarters is located on Red Hawk Road, next to the Red Hawk Parking Deck. Our sub-station is located in the Abbott and Costello Center at The Village at Little Falls.

MSU Police patrol the campus and its adjacent areas by means of marked and unmarked police vehicles, motorcycle, bicycle and foot patrols. Officers respond to calls for service, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, medical emergencies and mutual aid calls with surrounding law enforcement agencies.  Officers also provide and participate in programs designed to promote safety, crime prevention and victim awareness and assistance.

In an effort to keep the University community safe and improve our efficiency, officers receive continuous year round training. This training includes but is not limited to:  Cultural Diversity, Crime Prevention, Breathalyzer, Use of Force, Motor Vehicle accident reconstruction, Insurance Fraud, Drug Identification, Crisis Negotiation, Bias Crimes Investigation, Domestic Violence, Gang Awareness, Warrant Preparation and Execution, Firearms Qualification and Narcotics Enforcement to name a few.  Several officers are certified Police Academy Instructors. 

All officers are first responder trained (first aid, CPR, and Automatic External Defibrillator, AED). Several officers are fully certified Emergency Medical Technicians.

DETECTIVE BUREAU

Detective Commander: Capt. Boyd Lyons
The MSU PD detective bureau is staffed by specially trained officers who are responsible for the investigation of all criminal acts reported to the University Police. The detectives conduct follow up investigations in an effort to detect and apprehend criminal offenders.  In addition to their investigative duties, detectives maintain property and evidence, monitor the TIPS hotline, provide crisis intervention, support victims with legal and medical matters, and provide a link to the many services offered by the MSU PD.

Detectives are trained and educate the MSU community in many areas including the following: Victim Assistance, Crime Scene Processing and Management, Domestic Violence, Fingerprint Identification and Processing, Sexual Assault Response Team, Gang Awareness, Bias Crime Investigation, Evidence Management, and Alcohol and Drug Identification.
The Detective Bureau is located in the police sub-station in the Village at Little Falls Abbot and Costello Center.
A detective is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
 Contact Information:
(973) 655 - 7783
E-Mail: detectivebur@mail.montclair.edu  

 

 

PATROL DIVISION

Patrol Commander: Lt. Harry McKenzie

The Patrol Division is staffed by uniformed officers that patrol the campus and are responsible for all of the primary police tasks seven days a week, twenty-hour hours a day. This is the largest division within the police department due to the high demand of service needed to protect the University. Scheduling of patrol officers is done using fixed shifts. Recent, studies have shown that this type of work schedule provides for improved officer morale, better mental and physical health and increased job performance.

The Patrol Division has four basic functions: The prevention and repression of crime The apprehension of offenders The maintenance of peace The protection of life and property. Some of the duties of officers assigned to the Patrol Division include: Responding to criminal complaints and conducting complete preliminary investigations. Responding to non-criminal calls for service and EMS requests. Traffic control and the initial investigation of auto crashes. Enforcement of State Statutes, and Motor Vehicle Laws.

 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

 

Commander: Michael Ricker, Director of Emergency Services

Emergency Medical Services are provided to the community by fully certified Emergency Medical Technician student employees.  The University has its own ambulance service that services the MSU community and mutual aid to surrounding municipalities.  The University Police Department serves as a facilitator to the Chief of Emergency Services who coordinates the daily operations and scheduling of emergency functions.  For more information on Emergency Services and the student EMT program please visit the following link:
http://www.montclair.edu/EMS

 

 

COMMUNITY SERVICES & PROGRAMS

Community Services and Programming Division
Commander: Lt Kieran Barrett
Crime Prevention Specialist: Police Officer Jaison Frazier

The Montclair State University Police Department recognizes that to be an effective law enforcement agency we must strive to encourage citizen involvement in reducing crime and identifying problems which affect community quality of life. The Community Services and Programs Division is tasked with ensuring there is a constant flow of information, programming and evaluation to meet the growing needs of a growing community.

Community law enforcement services by definition is a philosophy and organizational strategy that promotes a partnership between citizens and the police. It is based on the premise that both the police and the community must work to identify problems and possible solutions with the goal of improving the quality of life in a given area.

Some areas that officers provide services and programming include: Self Defense, Sexual Assault Prevention and Resources, Online Safety, Emergency Planning and Procedures, Campus Safety, Residential and Office Safety Surveys among others.

The President’s Committee on University Safety is comprised of both a Student Safety Subcommittee and Employee Safety Subcommittee and community members are encouraged to seek out their area’s representative for non emergent issues they feel is of importance to the entire community.  Committee members meet regularly with University Police to open lines of communication and problem solve issues that we encounter as a community.

For more information on programming please contact us at (973) 655-7440 or at msupolice@mail.montclair.edu  

To hire an officer for your event or pay for officer services contact University Police at (973) 655-7440 or at msupolice@mail.montclair.edu

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission and purpose of the Montclair State University Police Department is to protect life and property, provide rapid response to calls of service and support the educational mission of the university.  This is encompassed in our department’s motto:

EDUCATION: Supporting the educational mission of the university by maintaining a safe and orderly environment conducive to positive learning experiences.
SERVICE: Answering all calls for service in a professional and efficient manner.
PROTECTION: Providing effective police services to deter crime and apprehend violators of law.