Letter from the Chief of Police
Welcome to the University Police Department
The following information will provide you with an overview of the department and the services we provide. As you review this website it will become apparent that we are full service provider of non-emergency and emergency public safety services. We are a professional law enforcement organization that works diligently to be progressive, effective and efficient for the community we serve.
The University Police Department serves an important role in the safety and security of the campus community. We have assembled a strong team of police officers to provide for a safe and secure environment. Our law enforcement division includes the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, Patrol Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, Support Sergeant, Patrol Corporal, 8 full-time police officers and 4 part-time police officers. Collectively, our full-time law enforcement staff represents more than 150 years of experience.
We will do everything possible to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience at SDState. We are here to help and serve you. If you have any questions or are ever in need of our services, please do not hesitate to contact our department at 605-688-5117.
Sincerely,
Timothy A. Heaton
Chief of Police
Mission Statement
We, the members of the South Dakota State University Police Department, exist to provide police services of the highest caliber. We are dedicated to the protection of all persons within our jurisdiction, and to serve under the ideals of fairness and equality. The constitutional rights of our population, and our visitors, must never be breached under color of law. We shall hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty and integrity and strive to create and maintain an atmosphere of trust in our police department.
We are committed to the enhancement of the university by providing a safe and secure environment; the enforcement of all laws and university regulations; the prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension and prosecution of violators and to continually improve the professional operations of our department; to seek the support of the campus community and to support the mission of the university.
Our primary goal is to support the overall mission of the university by providing the highest level of protective and public safety services possible. If you have questions concerning any aspect of our agency, would like to schedule a public education program or should you require the services of our law enforcement personnel, we are confident you will find our officers and staff to be ready to assist you. Please take the time to say hello to individual police officers and student patrol officers as they go about making our campus a safe and secure learning environment.
