How can I or my child feel safe on this campus?

Overall, here at UNT, the violent crime rate is actually fairly low, especially given the size of the community and the institution. It's highly likely that if you're victimized by someone, it will be a theft of some kind. Engrave your driver's license number on items like laptops, TVs or bicycles or at the very least, take photos of all your serial numbers and upload them to the cloud. Keep your cars clean and locked and also work out with your roommates and suitemates that all residence hall doors should stay locked at all times! Other than that, keep a charged cell phone on you at all times, keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings, and immediately report any suspicious persons or activity to the UNT Police.

What things can I carry or can my child bring to campus for their protection?

This can get complicated quickly. There are things you can do or carry in public or at UNT that are legal but may be otherwise prohibited by other policies. For example, you can carry a pocketknife at UNT but they are prohibited in the residence halls. Concealed handguns in certain residence halls are allowed, but the Texas LTC (License to Carry) has a minimum age requirement of 21 eliminating that choice for many. In general, we often recommend a good quality pepper spray. You can contact one of us for guidance and more discussion. Reach out to our community relations person found on this web site. Don't forget that general awareness and good personal safety habits are also important tools.

What is the crime rate on campus?

The Jeanne Clery Act requires institutions of higher education to annually compile and report on “Clery” crimes occurring within our “Clery geography.” Generally, these are your more violent offenses plus things such as alcohol and drug arrests or disciplinary referrals and dating/family violence. To see the statistics for the most recent three calendar years, go to https://clery.unt.edu and peruse the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (ASFSR). In general, based on the last information available to us, our crime rate is lower than that of similarly sized institutions.

Is there anything safety-wise in place to protect students on campus in an emergency situation?

Absolutely. All students are automatically enrolled in “Eagle Alert,” our emergency message notifications. The Clery Act requires us to notify the campus community of certain ongoing threats or emergency situations. Some may arrive by email but emergent and still ongoing or developing situations may be delivered by text messaging, phone calls, and classroom computer screen take-overs. In addition to simply being notified, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the RUN-HIDE-FIGHT philosophy as demonstrated here: /active_shooter

Do you provide any type of training programs related to safety for students on campus?.

Yes we do and they're all free! A sample list of some of our offerings can be found here: /safety. However, custom courses can be set up for you or your student groups if you contact us well in advance of your expected timeframe. Call the community relations officer listed in the link above to discuss your options. The best way to see what is already being offered throughout the semester is to follow our social media accounts…we're on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We'll post class offerings there as well as they occur.

Can I or my child carry a handgun on campus?

It depends. There is lots of good information and more FAQs here: https://www.unt.edu/campus-carry

For those wishing to carry a concealed handgun on the premises of UNT (in buildings), they must have a Texas License to Carry (LTC). LTC holders are still prohibited from carrying in certain areas that are marked with the requisite signage. If after you've reviewed the materials linked above you have a more specific situation or would like to talk further, please reach out to us at unt.police@unt.edu.

• A post on social media involving UNT Police seems to have raised questions. What is being done or why don't you fully explain yourselves?

  While we use social media liberally to promote proactive safety measures, we also know that, at times, posts may be misinterpreted or not fully show an accurate picture of our work. Social media posts by individuals not associated with our department may show only one part of a larger police interaction.

  Our focus must remain on the case itself and protecting those who report crimes: survivors, victims, and witnesses. This is especially true with developing incidents/cases in which more information must be sought by investigators.

  Public assumptions or misinterpretations - even with a popular or viral post - may call for a response. We will be as open as we can as long as an initial or continued response does not negatively impact those we serve or the integrity of a case.

  We routinely inspect our own work and evaluate the performance of our officers and we make these promises to our community:

  • We will own our mistakes. We are human and we know that we are not perfect. It is important for us to commit ourselves to responsibility and service to our UNT community.
  • We teach every member of our department to understand the customer service mindset inherent to our mission statement and values.
  • We do not investigate ourselves if there is a racial bias allegation made. Those are reviewed by UNT's Office of Equal Opportunity in the Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access.
  • We will continue ongoing training in people skills - such as de-escalation, bias awareness, and bystander intervention - for all officers.

  Can I view body/vehicle camera footage of an incident?.

  In times of heightened and universal public attention, we may release body or vehicle camera footage alongside our own statements. Other cases, especially those of a sensitive nature or containing important evidentiary value in an ongoing investigation may not be released. There are some instances in which the law requires us to release footage, such as officer-involved shootings (very rare).

  Most body or vehicle camera footage, at least until the investigation is completed and filed with the District Attorney's Office, are evidentiary and not for public disclosure.

  Please note that in addition to body cameras, our officers have cameras inside and outside their vehicles. This footage is regularly reviewed by supervisors so that we might provide training and guidance to officers in order to ensure our best service to the community.

  I'm very upset about a social media post/video or incident involving UNT Police. Who can I talk to about this?

  We welcome every opportunity to sit down with our community members to discuss incidents of concern, share as much as we are able, and receive feedback. Please note that if there is a high-profile incident that results in an overwhelming number of inquiries, we can't always contact or reply to everyone.

  You can email us at unt.police@unt.edu.. We would appreciate knowing more about you, your organization (if applicable), and how you prefer to meet (in person or virtually). This information is only for meeting purposes so that we may best serve you.

  Media inquiries should go through the UNT University Brand Strategy and Communications division.