Department News

The coming of winter yields an uptick in a variety of risks. Depending on where you’re from, winter might not automatically come to mind when you’re thinking of risk or dangerous environments, but the data proves otherwise.

The UW-Madison Police Department is aware of reports that Black UW-Madison students have received racist text messages as part of a nationwide wave of messages that began on Thursday.  The messages contain references to slavery …

Everyone hopes to live their entire life without having to call 911. However, with over 600,000 calls to 911 daily in the United States, chances are you will need to do so at some point. …

Since the start of the Badger Football season, the UW-Madison Police Department has received an increase in reports of online ticket scams, particularly targeting students and student tickets. The scams are similar in nature: a …

Recently, parents of a UW–Madison student contacted UWPD to describe what they suspected was an attempt to scam them. The couple reported that a person, claiming to be a UW–Madison security officer, had stopped their son’s vehicle, and found something illegal. The caller demanded they pay a “bond” to prevent the student from going to jail.

9/27/24 update: UWPD is releasing images of the two suspects responsible for a series of e-bike and e-scooter thefts in downtown Madison. If you know them or have any information, please call the UW-Madison Police …

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to remind our community the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters to keep them, their families, and their communities safe. The UWPD Emergency Management Unit has a …

For many people, when they dial 911 for an emergency, it’s the first time they’ve ever made that call. It is perfectly normal to feel nervous in that situation, but remember — the dispatcher who answers is there to help and will direct the call by asking questions. It’s not your job to remember the priority of information during a crisis. However, it’s good to be aware of what law enforcement needs to know so that we can get help to you as effectively as possible in the case of an emergency.

Madison – and the UW-Madison campus in particular – is a very safe and walkable place. One advantage to cramming a whole bunch of people and places onto a narrow strip of land between two big lakes (an ‘isthmus’, according to our Department of Geography friends) is that what you want or want to do probably isn’t too far away.

Warm weather and sunshine are finally here, and that means spending more time doing activities on or near the water. While it can be tempting to dive headfirst (pun intended) into activities like swimming, boating, and kayaking, it’s important to remember how to stay safe and ensure a fun, accident-free experience.