Department News

Two police officers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department were recognized by the Green Bay Packers for their exemplary work above and beyond the call of duty. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, UWPD Officers …

By: Mclayne Vaughn Tornado Terminology For your own safety, it’s important to know the terms you might hear during tornado season. This could mean the difference between possible or immediate danger, and the more time …

By: Lake Rescue Staff “Lake Rescue 2025 Season Is Open”  As the winter recedes and temperatures continue to rise, we want people to be safe in their adventures on Lake Mendota. If you are considering …

Spring Break is just about here, and many have their minds set on their upcoming week off — whether that means going home, staying on or near campus, or traveling to a warm, exotic destination. …

By: Community Officer Jeff Kirchman “No ice is safe ice.” That’s what a fishing mentor told me years ago, before my first ice fishing adventure. And that’s what I remind myself before I step onto …

Brent Plisch, current interim University of Wisconsin–Madison Police Department chief, has been named the new UWPD chief of police.

Since 2000, there have been an average of two hazing-related deaths annually on higher-education campuses. The federal government has stepped in to help stop the practice.

In Madison’s hot property market, rental scams are nothing new. But there’s been an increasingly common twist that’s catching some renters off-guard. QR (for Quick Response) codes – the blocks of black and white squares that our cell phones can easily translate into web links – are more frequently being used legitimately by property companies and landlords. But some bad actors are using similar QR codes to connect unsuspecting renters to their own fraudulent sites. Often, these false sites mimic the real ones. Their goal:  Collect some form of payment, like a deposit or rental fee, as quickly as possible. If the scam goes undetected, the fraudster can continue using the provided financial information for additional unauthorized transactions.

12/10/24 Update: After reviewing each arrest, it’s been determined that all 19 individuals will each receive a citation for violating UWS 18.11(4)(a) Assembly – Block/Obstruct/Occupy Prohibited Signs/Noise for intentionally creating a volume of noise that …

By: Community Officer Jeff Kirchman Electronic device theft is one of the most common crimes reported to UWPD, second only to bicycle theft. This includes laptops, cell phones, and backpacks containing these and other electronic …