Pittsburgh is consistently ranked among the safest cities in the country. The Duquesne
University Department of Public Safety consists of a team of dedicated professionals
from University Police, the Emergency Management and Threat Assessment Office, and the Environmental Health and Safety Department who are all committed to providing a safe environment for students, faculty,
staff and visitors through crime prevention and safety awareness. We are one of only
10 accredited universities in the state by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police. The
Duquesne University Public Safety personnel utilize Body Worn Cameras that record
both video and audio while on duty. We employ police officers along with security
guards and support staff to:
Provide security and law enforcement
Prevent crime
Increase safety awareness
In an emergency, call Campus Police: (412) 396-2677 or 911.
The Duquesne University Department of Public Safety exists to serve and protect the
University community and the environment that sustains and encourages moral and intellectual
growth. We facilitate this goal by anticipating and preventing unsafe conditions and
protecting individuals from the imprudent or illegal acts of others.
To do this, we seek out educated and motivated men and women and train them to function
as University Police Officers. Our commitment is to improve the quality of life on
campus. Conflict resolution is our primary goal, accomplished through mutual cooperation
and understanding, or when necessary, through imposition of administrative or legal
sanctions. Inherent in the application of these sanctions is that such actions shall
be ethical, constitutional and humanistic.
Chief Eric Holmes and his team of nearly 45, including 25 sworn officers,
have made it a priority to be approachable, visible and involved in campus activities.
The department doesn’t just patrol the University; they actively participate in student
life.
Since joining Duquesne three years ago, Holmes has worked to reshape campus safety
into something more than just patrols and protocols. His vision? A public safety team
that is visible, approachable and deeply engaged—ensuring students, faculty and staff
feel protected and supported while also incorporating a bit of fun.
The Pop-Up Police Station initiative has also been a success, allowing officers to
set up small satellite stations around campus—whether in the residence halls, the
law school or outside key student gathering spots. “It’s another way for students
to engage with us without feeling like they have to come to the station,” Holmes said.
By blending professionalism with care, Holmes and his team create a welcoming environment
where every member of the University feels protected and at home.
Every effort is made to identify and prevent dangerous situations on campus. However,
in the event of an emergency,several communication methodsand services are available to enhance the safety of the campus.
DU Alertdelivers emergency messages via voice and text on cell phones and landline telephones
AnOutside Warning Systemwill sound a tone and a voice message announcing the nature of an emergency
Code Blue Telephonesare located around campus for automatic connections to a Police Communications Operator
EmergencyDuress Alarmsare located in several buildings on campus to connect with Public Safety
AnEscort Serviceis available on campus to ensure the safety of all Duquesne University community members
as they travel to or from his or her car, Residence Hall, Academic Building or office.
The Duquesne University Department of Public Safety offers a variety of ongoing programs
designed to educate and sensitize members of the community to crime prevention and
safety issues, particularly the recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and the
most effective protective measures. These are offered for Residence Hall groups, new
student orientations, student interest groups and employee training programs.
The mission of the Crime Prevention Unit is to reduce the incidence of crimes against
persons and property on the Duquesne University campus through public education. In
an effort to promote community awareness, it is the desire of the Department of Public
Safety to establish a working relationship with the Duquesne University community.
We hope to accomplish this through making public education programs available to students,
faculty and staff. The following programs are offered. Please find a description of
each program in theAnnual Security and Fire Safety Report. Any individual or group interested in attending or scheduling a program is invited
to contact Lieutenant Michael Kiryk via email or by phoneat (412) 396-4935
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
Workplace Violence
Basic Active Shooter/Assailant Survival Skills
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Awareness
Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD)
*Self-Defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange Program (SAFE)
First Aid/CPR/AED
Child Safety Seat Inspection
Relationship Violence
Safe in the City
Stop the Bleed
In the event of an emergency, Duquesne University will, without delay, and taking
into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification
and initiate the notification system, unless the notification will, in the professional
judgment of the responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist victims or to
contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.
Duquesne University has multiple ways of communicating the existence of an emergency
to the Duquesne community. The methods listed below may be used independently or collectively
depending on the nature of the emergency event. The Office of Marketing and Communications
and/or the Department of Public Safety have responsibility for implementation of the
emergency communication methods.
DU Alert
Outside Warning System
Mass e-mail, Blackboard, DU Daily, and website
Local/Regional radio, television
Public Address System built into siren control of each police vehicle
"Bullhorn": handheld Public Address devices carried in police vehicles
Ability to send broadcast voicemail over DUQ Landlines
Ability to issue emergency message on Duquesne's (412) 396-1700 call-in phone line
Ability to divert calls from main phone lines to a dedicated emergency line
10 line phone banks located in the Public Safety conference room and Administration
Building, 4th floor conference room, which in an emergency, would be operated by Public
Safety and Office of Marketing and Communications personnel.
Promoting Safety & Wellbeing
The Duquesne University Campus Community Risk Team (CCRT) is a multi-disciplinary
team with members from Academic Affairs, Residence Life, Campus Police, Student Conduct,
Campus Ministry, Center for Student Wellbeing, Human Resources, and Legal Affairs.
It may include others as needed.
The CCRT is responsible for evaluating possible serious risks to the safety and well-being
of the campus community and recommending countermeasures as appropriate.
When the team receives reports from members of the campus community that an individual
poses, or may pose, a threat to the campus community, or any member of the campus
community, it makes an individualized assessment to determine what, if any, action
to take to remove and/or mitigate the risk, either for a limited time or indefinitely.
In accord with ourUniversity mission statement, everyone at Duquesne is expected to demonstrate profound
concern for others. Hazing has no place in our community.
Our University demonstrates full support of the Timothy Piazza Anti-Hazing law in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and provides a twice-annual update of all reported
hazing allegations.
As a Catholic and Spiritan University, one of the ways Duquesne serves God by serving
students is through profound concern for moral and spiritual values. To uphold these
ideals, the University enforces the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct
to promote responsible citizenship, appropriate behavior and self-discipline. Verbal,
nonverbal or physical sexual misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated. It threatens
this mission and is prohibited by local, state and federal laws,Title IX, Duquesne's
Student Policy on Sexual Violence and by Duquesne's Sexual Misconduct and Gender Discrimination Policy.
Located in various locations across campus, Code Blue Telephones allow you to speak
with Campus Police at the push of a button. Simultaneously, this activation will automatically
activate a flashing blue light. Immediately after establishing the connection with
the Campus Police, the phone will send a signal indicating to them the location of
the activated station. Once the system is activated it allows you to have hands free
communication directly with the Campus Police.
Code Blue Telephone locations:
Bluff Street near Rooney Field
College of Osteopathic Medicine Building Parking Lot
Locust Circle near Gumberg Library
Shingiss Street at Rockwell Hall
Gibbon Street at Magee Street
Locust Street at McAnulty Drive near Rangos School of Health Sciences
Fisher Hall Sky Walk
Power Center at Forbes Avenue
Along Fifth Avenue corridor of campus from 718 to 1206 (four total)
Request a Safety Escort
Call Campus Police at (412) 396-6002to request a safety escort. It is not necessary to call in advance, as escorts are
on duty and ready to be dispatched as needed.
Purpose and Goal
The Public Safety Department provides a personal safety escort to all members of the
Duquesne University Community. The service is campus wide, to or from his or her
car, Residence Hall, Academic Building, or office. The service is designed to enhance
your safety and peace of mind if you must walk alone. It is intended to be primarily
a walking service with mobile escort provided when determined to be appropriate. The
primary goal is to enable you to travel from one location to another with a greater
sense of security.
Professional/Trained Escorts
Escorts will be provided by either a Campus Security Officer or a Campus Police Officer.
All Security and Police Personnel carry radios, identification and will be in some
type of designated Security or Police uniform. All Security and Police Personnel are
trained in First Aid and CPR.
Duress Alarms are for any situation where you feel uncomfortable or threatened; or
for any medical emergency. The University has installed over 300 duress alarms around campus. When activated,
all of these alarms connect directly to Public Safety and will result in a response
of the Campus Police within minutes. These alarms can be found in study rooms in the
Gumberg Library, in locker rooms at the Power Center, and in various other strategic
areas around campus.
Pull Station found in parking garages.
To activate, "push" lever which will allow you to then "pull" down the bottom lever.
Emergency Pull Station which can be found in the Gumberg Library, locker rooms and offices around campus.
