Our University Police Department officers are highly trained professionals committed to ensuring the safety and security of our campus community.
Training and Qualifications
- Completed a bachelor's degree
- Certified under state law
- Regularly receive training in "rapid response, active shooter"
- Pennsylvania ACT 120 certified. Having completed between 758 - 919 hours of training at a Commonwealth approved Police Academy.
- Complete 16 hours of mandatory in-service training presented by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.
- Participate in Patrol Response to Active Killer training at least once a year.
- Trained in initial patrol response to sexual assault (Detectives have advanced training in these types of incidents).
- Completed training as part of the department's acceptance and participation in the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) project, Georgetown University Law Center’s national training and support initiative for U.S. law enforcement agencies committed to building a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm. Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program in collaboration with global law firm Sheppard Mullin LLP to provide practical active bystandership strategies and tactics to law enforcement officers to prevent misconduct, reduce mistakes, and promote health and wellness.
- Crisis Intervention Team certified. “CIT” is a certification that helps law enforcement officers recognize and react more effectively and safely with persons with a mental illness. Currently 80% of the department is certified.
- Participate annually in 8 hours of use of force decision making training using a firearms simulator.
- Completed 15 hours of Cultural Awareness training that includes subjects such as Anti-Bias for Law Enforcement, Racial Profiling, Implicit Bias, LGBTIQ+ issues, Investigating hate crimes, Civil Rights, and Community Policing.
- Collectively completed over 2560 individual courses on Police One Academy, the industry leader in online police training.
Professional Conduct
Our force, recently equipped with body cameras, is thoroughly trained to defuse fights, threats, psychological crises and other critical situations — and all have had training about implicit and unconscious biases. Police interaction with the public is expected, and officers’ contact with the public better serves the community.
Begin a Career in Law Enforcement!
The University of Pittsburgh Police Department is looking to fill several positions at its Pittsburgh campus and regional campuses in Greensburg, Johnstown, and Bradford. Apply for the Police Development Program to get started on your journey as a police officer.
