Printer FriendlyAll UMass Lowell police officers are full-time officers, and are required to attend a Massachusetts certified full-time police academy prior to working within the department. Each year officers attend an annual in-service training program, as well as bi-annual re-certification with their firearms with a state certified firearms instructor. Additionally, officers participate in further specialized training outside their normal duties. Specialized training may include mountain bike patrol (COBWEB certification), motorcycle unit, RAD Instruction, community policing techniques, fingerprint recovery, breathalyzer training, crime prevention initiatives and sexual assault prevention training.
The department is equipped with both marked and unmarked vehicles, a motorcycle unit, and mountain bikes which enable officers to cover a wide area of the University community. Foot patrols are also used so that the University community has an opportunity to become familiar with members of the department.
The UMass Lowell Police Department has a fully staffed communications center with dispatchers trained in answering 911 calls, monitoring closed circuit televisions and alarms within the University’s buildings and surrounding properties as well as answering day-to-day questions from the public. Each shift has two dispatchers that are assigned to support the University. Other duties include taking both emergency and non-emergency calls to the police department, dispatching officers to calls and assisting members of the University community.
The department also has a close working relationship with Lowell Police Department, other municipal departments, Massachusetts State Police as well as federal agencies. Additionally the UMass Lowell Police Department will often times share information with these departments as well as internal departments to maintain a secure environment.