Marquette University is committed to providing the safest environment possible in which to learn, live and work. Through Marquette University Police Department’s expansive patrol operations, on- and off-campus outreach, and nationally recognized Department of Campus Safety, Marquette continues to set the standard in excellence in comprehensive campus safety efforts.
The university continuously addresses campus and community safety with innovative programming, educational efforts, technological advances and the best-trained campus law enforcement staff in the area. The President’s Task Force on Community Safety was established in Feb. 2022, to address safety and security on campus and in the community through actionable and lasting solutions for individual and institutional safety measures, communications, resources and partnerships. Members include students, parents and community partners who work alongside Marquette University faculty and staff to develop 30-day, 60-day and longer-term recommendations.
Fast facts by the numbers:
These efforts resulted in quick changes and recommendations to implement lasting solutions. Here are some of the ways the university has made safety a top priority.
- 68 – Public safety professionals, including 48 fully commissioned MUPD law enforcement officers
- 15,000+ — Marquette students, faculty, staff and parents served by MUPD’s dedicated safety alert notification system
- 1,219 — Security cameras that are installed throughout campus
- 450 – Blue Light phones connect immediately to MUPD and have cameras that are always recording the area
- 100,000 — Rides completed in the first 10 months of EagleExpress
New patrol zones
As of June 2024, the university modified the MUPD patrol zone on the east and west perimeters of campus to better align with on- and off-campus student living trends and recent changes in university property ownership — specifically the sale of land east of campus and south of Michigan Street.
The EagleExpress service area map now matches the new patrol zone and continues to provide rides to and from two approved off-campus locations: the Milwaukee Intermodal Station (Amtrak) and the Eleven25 at Pabst apartments.
Body-worn cameras
All MUPD officers now use body-worn cameras. In the city of Milwaukee, cameras are already in use by the Milwaukee Police Department and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Police Department. MUPD has used dashboard cameras in officer vehicles since its formation in 2015.
The policy for the MUPD’s body-worn cameras can be found online.
Nalox-ZONE boxes
In October 2023, Marquette collaborated with Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to install 15 Nalox-ZONE boxes across all on-campus residence halls, as well as Campus Town West, Campus Town East and McCabe Apartments. There are also two Nalox-ZONE box locations in the Alumni Memorial Union and one in the Union Sports Annex. Naloxone is important in emergency situations where an overdose is occurring. Having these boxes as precautions keeps the campus and community safer in these lifesaving situations.
MUPD Blue
Marquette welcomed a community support dog named Blue. The German shorthair pointer was first introduced to the campus community when he was adopted as a puppy in May 2022. He’s been bringing comfort to MUPD officers, students, staff and faculty, and helping build relationships among officers, Marquette students and members of our community. Blue is easily accessible to students or Marquette community members by going to the MUPD station at 749 N. 16th St. and asking to visit.
Putting safety first
Launched in January 2023, the LIMO transportation program became EagleExpress as the service leveraged technology and released a new app. The EagleExpress service is active with all rides requested, dispatched and managed through the app.
Marquette launched a new comprehensive university safety website in fall of 2022 that has additional safety resources and makes it easier for students, families, faculty and staff to navigate useful safety information online.
As part of the President’s Task Force on Community Safety, Marquette and its neighborhood stakeholders identified safety and security priorities and proposed solutions for individual and institutional safety measures, communications, resources and partnerships and more which included:
- A new behavioral health unit of MUPD to proactively work with those in need of services who have, or could have, repeated contact with police.
- Activated direct patrol missions to reduce the possibility of crime in specific areas.
- Installed new lighting at the Dental School parking and improved landscaping to reduce potential of crime.
- Highlighted safety messaging at SPARK, new student orientation and signage throughout campus.
- Partnered with the Near West Side neighborhood to provide tours to students.
Parents and guardians can now enroll in safety alert text messages, allowing them to receive the same accurate, timely texts their students do.
More safety infrastructures were updated in 2022, including secured access with MUIDs for residence halls and evening access to the Alumni Memorial Union.
Marquette hosted the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, and the Community Collaborative Commission for a “Reimagining Public Safety” community gathering session at Marquette Law School. This was the first of 15 sessions — one in each aldermanic district in Milwaukee.
Marquette encouraged everyone to conduct a cybersecurity check-up on their devices, online accounts and passwords.
MUSG hosted a Campus Safety Student Forum in March.
During National Police Week, the Marquette community celebrated the Marquette University Police Department for its dedication to maintaining a safe environment to learn, live and work.
