The Northwest Missouri State University Police Department is now certified in compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Standards for Certification on Use of Force and Safe Policing Communities.

The Safe Policing for Safe Communities, Presidential Executive Order No. 13929, complies with a federal directive that all law enforcement will not allow choke holds and have a duty to intervene.

The certification compliance, which is valid for three years, is an important step in the University Police Department’s work to meet the standards set for them by the public.

“We strive to provide great service to our stakeholders and community members every day,” Lt. Anthony Williams said. “We review our general orders and procedures every year to ensure that all of them are meeting applicable standards and are the best practices. These steps are taken to ensure the stakeholders and community members that we are holding ourselves to a higher level of policing.”

The University Police Department’s focus on safety and community policing initiatives has helped Northwest rank consistently among the safest campuses in the nation. In 2020, Your Local Security, a provider of home security and safety tools ranked Northwest as the safest campus in Missouri and No. 42 in the country.

The University Police Department, staffed by its officers and dispatchers, provides a 24/7 police presence to the Northwest campus and surrounding neighborhoods. University Police also offer numerous awareness programs to educate students about relationship violence, sexual assault, crime prevention and emergency preparedness.

While Northwest counts safety as one of its core competencies, its Safe Ride Home program, launched in 2004 as a student initiative, has reduced violations for driving while intoxicated by more than 63 percent while providing an average of more than 20,000 rides to students annually. Additionally, the University Police Department reports that more than 90 percent of students with whom officers interact in a judicial manner rate their experience as a quality one, further illustrating successful efforts by the city and Northwest to focus community policing practices on crime prevention. 

To help ensure the safety of its students and campus community, Northwest collaborates closely with the city of Maryville on prevention and preparation efforts. Additionally, Maryville and Northwest have worked together in recent years to improve the quality of housing in neighborhoods surrounding the campus, create a safe and enjoyable tailgating environment for fans attending Bearcat athletics contests, and enhance Greek life at the University.