Services and Outreach

Campanile and sky on central campus

Safety services

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    Iowa State Safe app

    A one-stop shop for campus safety and security.

    Available for iOS and Android devices.

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    Safe Ride escort

    No need to be alone when you head home.

    The overnight service is available 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. daily.

At your service

The Iowa State University Police Department is the official law enforcement authority for the university. More than 40 fully certified, sworn police officers and dispatchers provide a variety of services to the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The ISU Police Department is a professional, nationally recognized police agency. Iowa State University police officers receive the same training and certification as officers at other police units throughout the state. Through our community-oriented policing services, you will often engage with us through outreach opportunities. Our top priority is the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors to Iowa State.

Fingerprinting services are provided by ISU Police for students, faculty, and staff who require security clearance for certain university facilities or background checks. We also provide fingerprint services for US Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Center (NADC) and the Eagle’s Loft Daycare.  ISU Police charges $20 for this service. Cash or credit card is accepted.

A government-issued photo ID with a signature (i.e. driver’s license, passport, military ID) is required. An ISUCard will not be accepted as an ID.

Fingerprints can be processed at the Parking Services office on the southwest corner of the Armory Building. Fingerprinting is available:

Monday and Tuesday: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

For additional information or questions about fingerprinting, please call 515-294-3388.

The possession or use of weapons is prohibited on campus and in the course of university-related activities unless authorized through the firearms and other weapons application process. However, there may be appropriate uses of firearms and weapons in connection with university activities both on and off campus. The director of ISU police and the senior vice president for operations and finance have final approval concerning any use of firearms or other weapons.

To apply for authorization of a firearm or weapon on campus, please fill out the form here: https://tinyurl.com/2ctd72w8

What if my personal property has been stolen?

You should file a report as soon as possible if your property is lost or stolen.  Include all items’ serial numbers or owner-applied numbers in the report, if you have them. Items lost or stolen reported with serial numbers are more likely to be returned to their owners. We encourage property owners to also check the Lost and Found page at Iowa State University. 

How do I retrieve property taken as evidence?

All property taken by the ISU Police as evidence or stolen property is held until destruction or release is ordered by the Story County Attorney’s office.  You must present a government-issued photo ID.

If the Iowa State University Police Department is in possession of property you’d like to claim, a scheduled appointment is necessary. To make an appointment for property release, please e-mail an evidence custodian at isupdevidence@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4428.

Have questions?

If you have questions about your property that is in our possession, please e-mail an evidence custodian at isupdevidence@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4428. Property will not be released without a government-issued photo ID or other arrangements made in advance with an evidence custodian.

The Records Unit of the Iowa State University Police Department is a support function for the Investigative and Threat Management Services.  We process all case paperwork generated by our officers which includes incident and accident reports. Under Iowa Open Records Law, records generated by ISU Police may be subject to release. The department processes and releases all records in a reasonable and timely manner.  We will notify the requester when the request has been completed. 

There is a $5 fee to obtain a copy of an accident, theft, or vandalism report.  Payment is accepted by either check or cash and must be made prior to receiving records. However, requests may also be submitted by email at isupdrecords@iastate.edu. Requests may also be made in person at 55 Armory Building on campus in Ames. 

If you have questions, please call the ISU Police Records Unit at 515-294-9239 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Locked your keys in your car? We can give you a hand. A trained Community Service Officer or police officer will attempt to unlock your vehicle. Call 515-294-4428 and give the dispatcher your location, make, model and color of vehicle, and the license plate if known. This will help officers in locating your vehicle. You must remain with the vehicle to sign a release form.

ISU Police CANNOT unlock vehicles located off university property.

Community outreach and engagement

Provide outreach to more than 45,000 students, faculty, staff, and community members? No problem!

We rely on a cooperative effort between the ISU Police department and the community working together in a proactive partnership. Through this model, we can identify and solve problems that negatively impact the amazing campus culture and quality of life at Iowa State. Responding to crime is not enough; working with the community can make an immense difference. If you’d like to request a presentation, please contact the Community Outreach team.

The goal of Campus Safety Ambassadors, or CSAs, is to provide an opportunity for student employees to contribute to the safety, security, and well being of the Iowa State University community. These students ensure the safety of community members, facilitate the security of academic buildings, enhance the quality of the Iowa State experience, and provide student employees with positive law enforcement role models.

Responsibilities:

  • report suspicious activity and individuals to ISU Police
  • lock and unlock campus buildings
  • address maintenance problems on campus
  • mitigate fire hazards
  • provide security for special events
  • smoking enforcement
  • assist police officers
  • assist campus community
    • office lockouts
    • jump starting and unlocking vehicles
    • SafeRide ISU
    • fingerprinting

If you are interested in being a CSA, check the student job board on Access Plus for openings.

The Iowa State University Police Department Engagement and Inclusion Officer Team is committed to transforming Iowa State University into an inclusive community where freedom from all forms of power-based oppression; including but not limited to racism, misogyny, transphobia, xenophobia, religious intolerance, classism, heterosexism, ageism, and ableism, allows each member to participate fully in our larger university mission. Our team actively works to ensure equitable access to the safety services provided by ISU Police and that community members receive those services in ways that uphold human dignity and respect.

Engagement represents our desire to be an active partner in improving climate and inclusion represents our belief that our entire community should be invested in cultivating an inclusive campus. We have established a formal partnership with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to increase opportunities for interacting with students in non-police-related settings.

Resources

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use concern and help connect them to the appropriate care.

Topics covered: depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, substance use disorders

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training

QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is a 1 hour educational program designed to teach lay and professional “gatekeepers” the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Gatekeepers can include anyone who is strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide (e.g., parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, caseworkers, police officers). The process follows three steps: (1) Question the individual’s desire or intent regarding suicide, (2) Persuade the person to seek and accept help, and (3) Refer the person to appropriate resources. Trainees receive a QPR booklet and wallet card as a review and resource tool that includes local referral resources.

Mental Health 101

Mental Health 101 is a 1 hour overview of the ISUPD mental health program, understanding and identifying signs and symptoms of mental illness, warning signs for suicide, and how to speak with someone who is in crisis.

Schedule a mental health training

Mental Health Trainings are offered at the request of a department or group on campus. For scheduling and additional information, please contact 515-294-4428 or email isupdmh@iastate.edu.

Recognizing and Reporting Disruptive Behavior (RRDB) training is sometimes referred to as a precursor to our Violent Incident Response Training (VIRT), in that the warning signs or “red flags” observed can help to mitigate the tragedies that have become all too common in this day and age. The presentation is delivered via a PowerPoint presentation and the length depends largely on audience interaction and participation.  Many of the principles taught during VIRT are touched on with this presentation as well, but RRDB will deal more with creating awareness as well as ways to mitigate potential acts of violence from happening before the onset of the problem(s) become unmanageable. Proactive approaches are stressed over reactive ones. Just like in VIRT, information is the best weapon against violence. Information provides knowledge, which provides options for survival during a crisis. The only bad reaction is no reaction at all.

Schedule RRDB training

RRDB is offered at the request of a department or group on campus. For scheduling and additional information, please contact 515-294-4428 or email isupdoutreach@iastate.edu.

The residence hall liaison program was created in conjunction with the Department of Residence (DoR) to increase communication between students, DoR staff, and ISU Police.  Every residence hall on the Iowa State University campus has an ISU police officer assigned to it as a liaison officer.  The liaison officer is responsible for providing training on subjects such as alcohol awareness, sexual assault response, defensive tactics, and criminal law to the residents and staff of their respective buildings. 

Liaison officers frequently attend floor meetings to address questions and concerns and regularly visit those buildings in order to develop positive relationships with residents and staff.  It is through this partnership along with open and honest communication that ISU Police strives to support a safe and friendly atmosphere for our students and staff to learn, live, and work.

Residence Halls Contact
Friley, Helser, Eaton, Martin Kami Feld
Buchanan, Geoffroy Allison Bell, Natasha Greene
Barton, Freeman, Lyon, Birch, Welch, Roberts, Oak-Elm, Linden Kaitlyn Boor, Jessica Spada
Maple, Willow, Larch Natasha Greene
Wallace, Wilson Natasha Greene
Frederiksen Court, SUV Natasha Greene, Karime Massaro

 

To learn more or contact a residence hall liaison, contact isupdoutreach@iastate.edu.

ISU Police offers a free self-defense course to faculty, staff, and students. This course focuses on situational awareness, existing personal self-defense devices, and general physical skills and techniques that can be used in a variety of situations.

This self-defense program covers striking (i.e. punches and elbow strikes) and how to escape an attack from behind and will provide an opportunity to practice those skills. All necessary equipment will be provided by instructors. Participants are encouraged to arrive dressed in their typical day-to-day attire.

To schedule a self-defense course, please e-mail our Outreach Unit at isupdoutreach@iastate.edu.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Know when to use self-defense
  • Understand the importance of enhanced safety awareness
  • Know how to demonstrate a proper strike and elbow
  • Know how to demonstrate a proper kick and knee strike
  • Know how to defend against choke holds
  • Understand the importance of other self-defense options

Violent incidents in society, while rare, can seem like they are becoming more mainstream around the nation and the world. It is unfortunate we have to discuss a subject of this nature, however, Iowa State University and the Iowa State University Police Department believes your safety is the most important responsibility with which we are charged.

Realizing that someone can’t be with you around the clock for protection, we offer training and education on various topics to help ensure your safety. Violent Incident Response Training (VIRT) is one of the classes currently being offered.

In promoting an options-based response, we empower our community to use a flexible set of principles that may be adapted to any violent encounter: Avoid, Deny, Defend. Preparation is key for any situation we face in life; the more prepared we are, the better we perform.

Purpose of training

The goal of this training is to begin your mental preparation of recognizing, assessing, and responding to threats against you. Avoid, Deny, Defend is being taught around the country to law enforcement, college campuses, K-12 schools, private businesses, and other social organizations who realize they need education on this topic.

Society has trained us to react to fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and other types of disasters. This program is no different. By studying what has worked in past violent incidents around the world, it has been found that certain techniques work and others don’t.

This training is not designed to scare you into thinking there is a violent situation lurking around every corner; it is designed to provide you with options should you be in a violent situation.

Schedule training

VIRT is offered for free at the request of a department or group on campus. For scheduling and additional information, please contact 515-294-4428 or email isupdoutreach@iastate.edu.