- Accountability – University Police employees accept responsibility for their decisions and for the foreseeable consequences of our actions and inaction, as well as setting an example for others. In addition, we take whatever legal and ethical actions are necessary to correct or prevent inappropriate conduct of others.
- Excellence – University Police employees are committed to quality work and the pursuit of excellence. We are diligent, reliable, and industrious. We endeavor to be role models of trustworthiness for the members of the community through our words and actions.
- Fairness – University Police employees are committed to justice, the equal treatment of individuals. We strive for acceptance of diversity, and open-mindedness when interacting with people of divergent backgrounds.
- Honesty – University Police employees are, primarily, honest and truthful. We do not cheat, steal, lie, deceive, or act deviously. We avoid unnecessary secrecy or the concealment of information. Our credibility with the public comes from always being truthful.
- Integrity – University Police employees possess the highest degree of integrity. We are principled, honorable, and morally sound. We are courageous and act upon our convictions. We will not be expedient at the expense of principle, or unscrupulous.
- Respect – University Police employees respect human dignity, privacy, and the right to self-determination.
We are courteous and decent. We provide others with the information they need to
make informed decisions.
The Pennsylvania Western University Police Department, located on all three campuses, is responsible for security on campus. All PennWest police officers have extensive, ongoing police training, including courses in criminal justice, investigation, accident reporting, first aid, and criminal law and procedures. Their top priority is the safety and security of our campus community.
University police officers check weekly with local police and receive all information concerning allegations of criminal activity by students. This information is retained by the PennWest Police Department and provided to the associate dean for student conduct, who may subject the violator to University disciplinary procedures.
The PennWest University Police is accredited by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police
Association. Accreditation is a system of requirements that enable law enforcement
agencies across the Commonwealth to follow “Best Practices” as have been identified
by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC). The following
is an overview of the goal & philosophy of the PA Chiefs of Police regarding accreditation:
“Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping institutions evaluate and improve their overall performance. The cornerstone of this strategy lies in the promulgation of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating administrators then conduct a thorough analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of independent professionals is assigned to verify that all applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by an authoritative body that the institution is worthy of accreditation.
The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was designed and developed by professional law enforcement executives to provide a reasonable and cost-effective plan for the professionalization of law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth. The underlying philosophy of the program is to have a user-friendly undertaking for the departments that will result in a “success” oriented outcome.”
The PennWest University Police was accredited as an integrated University on June
23, 2023.
Mission
The mission of the PennWest University Police is to establish an environment where
people on the campus may be free from fear and, thereby, contribute to the quality
and excellence of the University. We are committed to the protection of life and property;
the preservation of peace, and safety; the fair and impartial enforcement of state
and federal laws and University rules; and the defense of the Constitution of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the United States of America.
University police officers will exercise law enforcement authority on behalf of the
people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and will faithfully discharge that trust.
Core Values
Hours:
The University Police Department is open 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year.
Locations:
California
420 Hickory St
California, PA 15419
724-938-4299
police-cal@pennwest.edu
For emergencies: 724-938-4357
Clarion
E. Wood St.
Clarion, PA 16214
814-393-2111
police-clr@pennwest.edu
For emergencies: 814-393-2111
Edinboro
911 Scotland Rd.
Edinboro, PA 16444
814-732-2921
police-edn@pennwest.edu
For emergencies: 814-732-2911