A Community Policing Agency
The New York State University Police at SUNY Cortland serves the institution's more than 6,500 students, 1,300 faculty and staff and thousands of visitors. Cortland's campus encompasses 191 acres of property, roadways and more than 50 buildings that are all patrolled by car, bicycle or on foot.
Our objective is to protect the lives and property of our students, employees and visitors. In addition, the University Police provide a variety of community-oriented programs that strive to create a safer campus environment.
The New York State University Police is a fully empowered agency with the ability to enforce laws, conduct investigations, make arrests and execute warrants. Officers derive this power from the New York State Criminal Procedure Law and Educational Law, where they are defined as police officers with full police authority.
University Police officers receive basic training at a regional police academy as well as additional training that addresses the unique needs of a campus environment.
Since a police agency is always more effective when it gets help from those it serves, the University Police Department relies upon the involvement of the SUNY Cortland community. As part of that collaboration, UPD encourages the community to become aware of our community policing practices and attend educational UPD programs.
UPD - An Accredited Agency
Accreditation is a progressive and contemporary way of helping police agencies evaluate and improve their overall performance. It provides formal recognition that an organization meets or exceeds general expectations of quality in the field. Accreditation acknowledges the implementation of policies that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.
Personal Safety at Cortland
Personal safety and crime prevention are top priorities on Cortland's campus. We take a proactive approach to educate our students, faculty, staff and the wider community before issues arise. Our officers, who are dedicated to policing and public safety, are vigilant and visible. They build awareness of risks, take proactive steps to get in front of issues and dedicate their lives to helping others.
Blue Light Phones
Emergency telephones have been installed across campus with direct lines to UPD dispatch to make reporting emergencies faster and easier. They can easily be identified by their red phone boxes and large blue lights. A map of the blue light locations can be found on our webpage.
Educational Programs
In addition to the services listed here, the New York State University Police offer educational programs that the campus can attend on a number of issues. These include alcohol and drug awareness, interpersonal violence prevention, traffic safety, self-defense and other personal safety topics.
Self-Defense
Our self-defense program, provides individuals with realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. The self-defense program is a comprehensive course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. It is not a martial arts program. Courses are taught by our officers every semester.
Lost and Found
If you have lost an item, check with Lost and Found by calling 607-753-2112. The Lost and Found Department is located within the University Police station in Whitaker Hall and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We make every effort to identify the owner and to see that the property is returned.
Emergency Notification System
SUNY Cortland-Alert is used to notify the campus community the case of an emergency. Students, faculty and staff can expect to receive text messages and emails and to hear a loud, public address message broadcasted via outdoor speakers and campus phones.
Police and Emergency Contact Information
For emergencies on campus, please call 911 or 607-753-2111 for a direct line to UPD dispatch. Emergency lines also can be found around campus marked by blue lights.
To ask questions, report concerns or discuss non-emergencies, please contact the University Police Department at 607-753-2112 or upd@cortland.edu
New York State University Police
- Whitaker Hall, Room 110
- Emergency: 911 or 607-753-2111
- Non-Emergency: 607-753-2112
- upd@cortland.edu