GW Police Department

The GW Police Department offers security services for events held on university property. The department reserves the right to refuse services based on need and circumstances.

Important Considerations:

1. Any department or organization requesting security services will be charged an hourly rate for each officer to work an event. The standard rate is $53 per hour.
2. There is a four-hour minimum charge per officer for security services.
3. If the event is canceled or postponed without one business day notice prior to the start of the event, the department or individual will be charged for a minimum of four hours/officer requested.
4. GWPD requires 7 business days notice to schedule security services for an event. The hourly charge will be $72.00 for requests that are received and honored with less than 7 business days notice.
5. While every effort will be made to provide coverage in an emergency, it is unlikely that we will be able to staff an event with less than 4 business days notice.
6. Oracle Alias: If you do not have an Oracle Alias, please email our Special Services Unit at GWPDSSU@hermes.gwu.edu prior to completing/submitting your event request. 
7. Payment for security services must be completed through Google Forms with the numbers provided to GWPD on that form. Any exception to this must be specifically arranged and payment must occur prior to the event.
8. GWPD must charge security services to account 59502. Please do not request services to be charged to another number. It cannot be done.

Submit GWPD Security Services Request

If you do not receive a response to your request within three business days, please email our Special Services Unit at GWPDSSU@hermes.gwu.edu (or alternatively, call GWPD's main phone line 202-994-6110 and request to talk to a supervisor on duty.) 

The Threat Assessment Team is a cross-functional team comprised of a variety of University offices that addresses concerns about threatening behavior that could result in violence directed towards the students, faculty, and staff of the George Washington University. The goal of the Threat Assessment Team is to evaluate behavior that individuals perceive as warning signs for future violent or self-destructive actions. The team can be rapidly convened in order to assess situations whenever they arise. Concerning and threatening behavior can occur in a variety of ways, and all threats should be taken seriously.

Call the Team if someone's actions, words, or writing makes you feel threatened or concerned in any way. A call to GWPD will activate the Team for imminent concerns, or you may report concerning behavior online for non-imminent concerns.

Call GWPD - Emergency

Report Concerning Behavior Online - Non-Emergency

GW's Crime Tips Hotline, (202) 994-TIPS, allows individuals to leave a confidential voicemail message. (202) 994-TIPS allows people who have information -- but don't come forward because they don't want to go on the record -- a way to report incidents with the promise of strict confidentiality. It's important to remember that you should only use the TIPS line for non-emergencies. Call (202) 994-6111 for all emergencies. The TIPS line has been useful to individuals in the past who provided information about a specific incident or a repeating problem but wished to do so anonymously.

General guidelines when calling:

• Give information about who, what, when, where, why, etc.
• If your message is too long & you are cut off by the voicemail system, call back.
• While it is not mandatory that callers leave a first name or return phone number, it aids in investigation.

202-994-8477 (TIPS)

The GWPD Incident Report Request allows individuals to request a police report for incidents in which they were a complainant. The purpose of this form is to obtain a copy of a police report that has been filed.

GWPD Incident Report Request Form

Investigators conducting background checks on members of the GW community must complete the online Criminal History Check Request Form.

GWPD Criminal History Check Request Form

The GW Guardian App offers an additional layer of security to the University’s emergency mass notification services. Free to the GW Community, this personal safety app enables users on and off campus to:

Blue Light Emergency Phone

• Always be aware of your surroundings and environment.
• Be familiar with locations of the Blue Light Emergency Phones on campus.
• Know the locations and phone numbers of emergency responders.
• Learn about the neighborhoods where you live, work, volunteer, and have fun.
• Don’t text or look down at the ground, watch the cars and people around you.
• Only wear headphones in one ear, so you can remain aware of your surroundings and environment.
• Keep your phone charged, secure and out of sight. Always carry identification.

Pedestrian Safety

• Never leave your belongings unattended, even if you will only be gone for a short time.
• Avoid isolated areas—underground garages, alleys, parking lots, and offices after business hours. Walk with a group and in well-lit areas.
• Have a plan when you go out: know how you will get home; let someone know where you are going, with whom, and what time you plan to return.
• If you feel like you are being followed, move as fast as possible towards the nearest lighted and populated building. You can also cross the street in the middle of the road or flag down a passing car for assistance.
• Maintain a safe distance if approached by a stranger, even if they just ask for directions.
• Walk with a confident attitude, even when you are lost.
• Never leave important documents in your car such as the title or registration, put any valuables or packages in the trunk.
• Avoid using electronic devices on public transportation especially when seated near the doors.
• Do not sleep on the bus or train.
• Always lock your bike in a way that secures the frame and both tires.

See Something, Say Something

• Familiarize yourself with the location and operation of Classroom Lockdown Buttons (PDF).
• Lock your office whenever you leave.
• Do not leave cash or credit cards unattended in the office, especially overnight or over a weekend, unless it is secured in a safe or vault.
• If you are entrusted with a key to a specific area, never loan it to anyone and keep it secured.
• Report suspicious people in your office building to GWPD at (202) 994-6111.
• Report the loss or theft of keys, equipment, or valuables immediately to GWPD.

Residence Safety

• ALWAYS lock the door when you leave the room.
• Keep your items secured and out of sight at all times.
• Do not allow strangers to piggyback, or follow you, into your building. If someone suspicious does follow you into the building, try to make a mental note of what the person looks like and what time it is. Go immediately to a place where you feel safe, lock the door, and call GW Emergency Services at (202)-994-6111. If you are off-campus, call 911 or alert your building's security personnel.
• Remember that GW visitors and guests should be escorted at all times. Residents must walk down to let their guests into the building.
• If you lose your GWorld card, deactivate it. If you lose your keys, borrow loaner keys from the Key Depot and replace yours. It's better to pay the key replacement fee than to leave your room unsecured.
• Never open your door to strangers. Check the ID of service people before letting them in. Don’t be embarrassed to call for verification.
• If you come home and see a door or window open or broken or notice other indicators of a break in, do not enter your house. If you have already done so, leave immediately and call the police.

Personal Information Safety

Identity theft occurs when an unauthorized individual acquires some of your personal information -- your bank and/or credit card numbers, your social security number (SSN), or even something as simple as your name, address, and telephone number - and uses it to commit fraud or theft.

Rideshare Safety

• Ask the driver his or her name before entering the vehicle.
• Compare the photo provided by the rideshare company with the driver.
• Ensure the car you are entering matches the car and the license plate number indicated by the rideshare app.
• Check the rating of the driver to determine if you want to use that vehicle.
• Know where to file complaints against the driver if needed.