Campus Safety

Student's walking across Brown University's campus

Department of Public Safety

The Brown University Department of Public Safety (DPS) is a fully-accredited police department that provides a wide array of services to the Brown community. The mission of the department is to is to contribute toward the quality of University life by fostering a stable environment in which security is balanced with the needs of the community. In addition to crime deterrence, investigation, and emergency response, DPS educates the campus community and provides training opportunities related to crime prevention and community safety. Visit the Department of Public Safety website for more information about personal, property, building, and vehicle safety.

For any emergency on or near campus (including Medical School, South Main, and the Jewelry District) or any emergency involving Brown students, faculty, or staff, Brown strongly recommends using the Brown Emergency Services number at 401-863-4111. Brown Emergency operator will dispatch the Police, Fire, or EMS personnel closest to you and will be able to route them to your location on campus.

When calling Emergency Services, please be ready to:

  • Provide the location of the emergency (or describe the location e.g. nearby landmarks, street signs, building numbers)
  • Describe the emergency, including type of emergency, people involved, and injuries or life threats
  • Stay on the line with operator for further instructions until Police, Fire, or EMS personnel arrives

For non-emergencies, you may call the Routine Public Safety Response number at 401-863-3322

Get a Head Start on Safety!

View these Move-In Safety Tips and watch the Campus Safety 101 Video to get a head start on campus safety awareness at Brown.