The UW-Madison Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in Madison, WI. The UW-Madison campus is unique in that we’re basically a city within a city. In fact, if UW-Madison truly was an actual city, our population during a normal school day would make us one of the largest cities in the state.
UWPD responds to incidents that happen on the UW campus. Just like a city, we have borders – and any incidents that happen outside our borders are handled by the City of Madison Police Department. Of course, both departments have a great relationship and routinely collaborate to keep our community safe and secure.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide public safety to the UW-Madison community. We are committed to providing exceptional service that upholds the law, protects and respects rights, and promotes well-being.
OUR VISION
Together, we strive to be a national leader in public safety by using values-based approaches and collaborative strategies involving our entire community to ensure the safety and well-being of UW-Madison. Further, we are dedicated to the growth and support of all our employees, empowering them to succeed, enabling them to develop professionally, and encouraging them to attain wellness.
Contact Us
If this is an emergency,
please call 911 immediately.
To contact UW–Madison Police to file a police report, speak with an officer, or for other general inquiries, call our dispatch center at 608-264-2677.
For more information about our location and ways to contact us, visit our Contact Us page.
Our Core Values
Our core values serve as our foundation and guide us to achieve excellence. They represent our highest commitments to the community we serve and act as our guiding principles with our interactions, our relationships, and our service.
Integrity & Honesty
We are dedicated to doing the right thing even when it’s difficult, our actions are based on strong moral principles and adhere the highest ethical standards.
Trust & Respect
We strive to build confidence in our service and are committed to equity, inclusion, and fairness in all our interactions.
Empathy & Compassion
We seek to connect with others on a human level, recognizing differences, and willing to help those in need.
Accountability & Transparency
We take responsibility for our individual and collective actions and decisions. We are committed to being open and upfront about our actions and decisions.
Safety & Guardianship
We work to create a secure environment where individuals feel safe and protected. We make the well-being of our community and UWPD employees an important priority.
Leadership
Brent Plisch
Interim Chief of Police
brent.plisch@wisc.edu
Brent Plisch joined the UW-Madison Police Department in 2005 as a police officer, and has served in a variety of roles with the department. Prior to his appointment to Interim Chief in February 2024, Plisch served as the Assistant Chief for Administration and Support, with leadership oversight of emergency management, access control and video systems, human resources, finances, IT, and professional standards. Plisch has previously held roles as administrative captain, detective lieutenant and sergeant, patrol sergeant, Explosive Detection K9 handler, field training officer, bike officer, and patrol officer on all three patrol shifts.
Plisch graduated from Winona State University with a B.S. in Sociology and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command. Plisch also completed the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police held at Boston University.
Prior to his public safety career, Plisch served as a captain in the US Army’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). He served as a platoon leader, assistant operations officer, and a battalion staff officer. He served at Fort Carson, Colorado and completed a tour of duty in Iraq.
K9 Unit
