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 …
Department News
Lake Rescue Season Concludes
The UWPD Lake Rescue & Safety Unit has concluded its 115th season of service on Lake Mendota. The unit’s calls for service have resulted in over 250 people being helped on the lake this year. …
Get Winter Ready: What You Need to Know
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.
UWPD Responds to Racist Text Messages
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 …
If You Don’t Know What to Do, Know Who to Call
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. …
Ticket Scams: What to Watch for
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 …
A Scam Involving Students: Learn the Signs
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.
UWPD Investigating String of Scooter & Bike Thefts
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 …
What Should I Expect When I call 911?
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.
Walk Smart
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.