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Transparency and Accountability Initiative

We are committed to transparency, diversity, accountability, and listening

Transparency and Accountability Initiative

There are members of our community who are concerned with how police operate and exercise authority and power, especially during interactions with people of color and other historically underrepresented and marginalized groups.  Concerns related to traffic stops, searches, arrests and use of force typically permeate the discussion.  Trust and legitimacy concerns also may stem from misunderstandings of First Amendment protections, how police are trained, a lack of useful data and transparency, as well as possible police misconduct and discipline.

To further an environment of trust and legitimacy, University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) has developed the Transparency and Accountability Initiative. Below, the "What We Have Accomplished" section outlines what UPPS is already doing to be transparent and accountable to the community we serve. The "Answering the Call - Our Commitment To Excellence" section outlines our commitment moving forward to better serve our community.

We encourage the Penn State community to review this new section of police.psu.edu, which is filled with information about our police unit and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability.

What We Have Accomplished

The mission of Penn State University Police and Public Safety states, “We will serve and protect our community with respect, professionalism and accountability; while always striving for excellence.”  The policies and initiatives listed here demonstrate the work we continue to do every day to accomplish our mission.

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Answering The Call - A UPPS Commitment to Excellence

While strides have been made as a department to meet the expectations of our community, we acknowledge important work yet to be done.  Our efforts to build a trusting partnership with the Penn State community shall always remain a top priority.  We are committed to doing the work.  We are committed to hearing your voice and taking action that allows us to provide the transparency and accountability our community expects and deserves.

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Continue The Conversation

Learn more about how University Police and Public Safety serves the Penn State community. (PDF)

Our efforts do not end here. We are always seeking ways to advance and expand our services, and we value your feedback. We are here to listen and serve. If you've reviewed all of the materials featured through the links above and you still have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.  You can contact us at any time to further this conversation.

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