Nearly all college campuses in the United States that have an enrollment of over 10,000 students typically have their own police department known as the “University Police” or UPD.

Every University Police Department is different depending on the college that they serve, but now in 2023 it’s safe to say that a good majority of these officers have the power to not only arrest people, but are also armed in case they ever need to be for some reason.

Some smaller colleges across the country have University Police Departments that aren’t armed lethally, but just with things like tasers and mace, but most usually have access to stronger weapons in case they need them.

University police officers are actually employed directly through the college/university and therefore don’t go through the same extensive training that regular police officers do. However, it’s not a university police officers job to enforce all of the laws wherever they go, but to simply enforce the college campus criminal laws and rules which may be different than a regular area.

Yale University actually created the first University Police Department in 1894 and more and more schools have been doing it across the country since then.

University police officers do a lot for the campus community of a college as well as looking out for and doing their best to keep all students safe when they’re on campus property.

Without university police there would be a lot more active crime that occurs on college campuses in the United States so it’s a good thing that most schools have them to enforce the safety and rules for college students.

You should check out your own University Police Department at your college if you haven’t already!