Support Services

The Department of Public Safety and Police at Florida Gulf Coast University believes that its members have a responsibility to the community.  This responsibility not only includes the enforcement of law, but maintaining professionalism at all times. This standard of professionalism should be adhered to by all employees to maintain the respect, confidence and cooperation of the community.

The Department of Public Safety and Police recognizes the rights of private citizens and also acknowledges that the University Police Employees must be free to exercise their best judgment in taking necessary and reasonable action in the performance of their duties without fear of reprisal.

Specific complaint procedures have been developed and adopted by the Department of Public Safety and Police to ensure that fair and proper action is taken when an employee is accused of misconduct. This also protects employees from unwarranted or false accusations. Additionally, this system provides a means of identifying and correcting deficiencies in policies, procedures, supervision, and/or training.

Any person who feels that he or she has been mistreated by a sworn officer or a civilian member of the Florida Gulf Coast University Police Department has the right to file a complaint. The Internal Affairs Unit of FGCUPD reports directly to the Chief of Police and has the responsibility of investigating certain complaints of misconduct against members of the police department. Depending on the nature of the complaint, cases are investigated by either the Internal Affairs Unit or are sent to the member's direct supervisor for investigation.

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Dispatchers are the lifeline between the people who require assistance and the police officers who respond on scene. In addition to answering the police department’s general administration line, FGCUPD Dispatchers relay information to officers and first responders over the radio. Dispatchers are responsible for keeping track of the location and status of every on-duty officer and first responder.

In order to do so, Dispatchers use a system called CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch), in which they can create, log, track, and update calls and database information for the police department. The Dispatchers also maintain the National Criminal Database in which driver’s licenses and license plates can be checked, as well as the status of pending warrants and stolen items. A dispatcher is also required to maintain communication with surrounding agencies, monitor several campus alarm & camera systems, call out any after-hours personnel, and answer the 911 emergency and Blue Light phones.

In 1993, Florida Statute 943.125 directed that the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association create a voluntary law enforcement accreditation program. Representatives from these Associations developed a process for accreditation which required compliance with more than 250 professional standards designed specifically for Florida law enforcement agencies. The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation was formed, comprised of four Sheriffs, four Chiefs' of Police, and one representative each from the Association of Counties, the League of Cities, the State Law Enforcement Chiefs' Association, the Judiciary, and the Inspectors General. The Commission meets three times per year to oversee the accreditation program and to officially accredit agencies that have passed the rigorous review process.

Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. Accreditation increases the law enforcement agency’s ability to prevent and control crime through more effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community it serves. Accreditation enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency, and its role in the community as well as its goals and objectives. Citizen confidence in the policies and practices of the agency is increased.

The Florida Gulf Coast University Police Department was awarded its initial accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation on June 25th, 2014. A re-evaluation of the agency occurs every three years. The Agency has been reaccredited after each on-site assessment. Florida Gulf Coast University Police Department was awarded reaccreditation in 2017, 2020 and most recently awarded the status of reaccreditation on June 29th, 2023.

It is the FGCU Police Department’s policy to ensure that public records in the department’s custody are maintained and managed as required by the Florida Public Records Law.  This law provides that all materials made or received by FGCU Police Department and local government agencies in connection with their official business are public records. 

The FGCU Police Department Records Section places a high priority on efficient, effective, and economical management of public records to ensure that information is available when and where it is needed, in an organized and efficient manner, and in an appropriate environment. 

Records Requests must be made Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm. To obtain and University Police Department records, please contact our UPD Records Manager at 239-590-1900

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS

Public records requests shall be accepted in writing, by electronic mail, by telephone, by facsimile, or in person.  While a request is not required to be made in writing, a written request will help the Records Section provide a more accurate response in a shorter period of time.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

TRAFFIC CRASH REPORTS

Traffic crash reports are exempt from public disclosure for 60 days after the date the report is filed, except for parties involved in the crash and other specific parties outlined in the statute.  This statute also provides criminal penalties (third degree felony) for the unlawful disclosure of confidential personal information and for unlawfully obtaining or attempting to obtain confidential personal information. Involved parties can obtain a crash report through LexisNexis. 

CLICK HERE TO OBTAIN A CRASH REPORT

All other interested parties visit www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports.