File a Police Report
Members of the Stanford community are encouraged to immediately and accurately report any criminal offense, suspected criminal activity, or other emergency directly to the Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) or the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction where the incident is taking place or occurred. If an individual affected by a crime is unable to report, prompt reporting by a member of the community is encouraged. SUDPS will investigate reports in a timely manner, conduct thorough and impartial investigations, and submit cases to the District Attorney for prosecutorial review, when appropriate, for crimes that take place on the main campus.
For detailed information related to the reporting of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, see the section beginning on page 48.
Certain Stanford employees, as well as persons affiliated with the university (e.g., contractors and volunteers), may have legal obligations to report specific crimes pursuant to federal and/or state laws. Some may have reporting obligations to the university, separate from or in addition to reporting obligations to law enforcement. University affiliates and employees should review the Stanford Administrative Guide and this document for more information. Employees may also consult with their respective Human Resources Managers or the Office of the General Counsel to determine if they are subject to mandatory or required reporting.
Dial 9-1-1 from any non-university phone or cell phone (free from a pay phone), or dial 9-9-1-1 from any Stanford University phone. If you are unable to call from a cell phone, you can send an SMS text to 9-1-1while on campus or anywhere in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties.
Press the red button to activate a blue 911 emergency telephone tower and connect directly with an emergency services dispatcher. Activating a tower will transmit your exact location and also activate a blue strobe light on the top of the tower to alert others, including response personnel, to the tower location. There are over 260 tower and phone locations on the main campus, including towers on the pool deck of two the aquatic center that include defibrillators. Provide the dispatcher with the location, a description of the incident or type of emergency, time of occurrence, any injuries, weapons involved, description of the suspect (e.g., gender,height, other distinguishing features, attire), associated vehicles (e.g., license plate, make, color) or other mode of travel, and the direction of travel. Describe the situation as simply as possible. For example:
“I saw a bike rider hit by a car.” “I saw a male with white hair in a ponytail.” “They were wearing a gray shirt, black pants, and they were 6 feet tall and muscular.”
“They put my bike in the back of a white truck and drove West on Main Street. The license plate is California V876ASD.”
“They went westbound on Main in a Ford F-150.” “They are going toward the library on a red mountain bike with black wheels.”
For a non-emergency response on the Stanford main campus, dial 650-329-2413 to reach the 24-hour Palo Alto Communications Center (PACC). The PACC provides police, fire, and medical dispatching for the main campus. PACC also provides non-emergency service response for the city of Palo Alto at the same number.
For business matters such as questions about parking, assistance with events, or to speak with a member of SUDPS, call 650-723-9633 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
For a non-emergency response at the Stanford Redwood City campus, during business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), contact the Redwood City Police Department main office at 650-780-7100. The 24-hour dispatch center can be reached for non-emergency concerns at 650-780-7118.
In Menlo Park, call 650-330-6300 for non-emergency assistance, 24 hours a day.