Glen Burnie, MD - On Tuesday, February 4th, 2014, the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) was awarded the Governor’s Crime Prevention Award at the 34th Annual Governor’s Crime Prevention Awards ceremony. In order to receive this award, UMPD must successfully demonstrate and provide services and educational material to the community relating to crime prevention and security. UMPD recognizes and congratulate Mr. Wyatt Clough, who received the Governor’s Crime Prevention Award for Community Groups, Organizations, and Individual Citizens on February 4th, 2014. To receive this award, Mr. Clough, who works for the IT Services Department at the Stamp Student Union, demonstrated outstanding contributions by being proactive in the field of crime prevention and security when it comes to the inventory of University owned property. Thank you Mr. Clough for all of your hard work and dedication!

College Park Dream Team College Park, MD - In partnership with the University of Maryland’s Office of Community Engagement, the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) will be participating in the College Park Dream Team alongside Prince George’s County Police Department, and Maryland-National Capital Park Police with local youth in a game of basketball. On Friday, February 7th, 2014, the mayor of College Park, Andy Fellows, UMD’s VP for Admin. & Finance, Carlo Colella, and Paint Branch Elementary School principal, Emmet Hendershot, and UMPD's Chief of Police David B. Mitchell will be there as well for the evening’s festivities. There will also be a hip-hop dance workshop, a brief performance by UMD’s Gymkana, free food, and giveaways. The event kicks-off at 7 p.m. with tip-off shortly after. Game and events will take place at the College Park Community Center, located at 5051 Pierce Ave, College Park, MD. For additional information, please contact: Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas 301-405-9960

“It is with deep sadness that we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the University of Maryland student killed this morning in a tragic, senseless accident,” said Wallace D. Loh, President of the University of Maryland. “In this time of loss, I ask that the entire Maryland family keep them in our thoughts and prayers.” The police investigation of this matter is ongoing. Prince George’s County Police is leading the investigation, however the university is assisting with all appropriate resources, including the University of Maryland Police Department. The university is committed to doing everything possible to provide assistance for our community during this time. For information about the incident and updates, please visit http://pgpolice.blogspot.com/2014/01/pgpd-investigates-fatal-hit-and-run-in.html

On 01/16/14, Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) presented Ms. Ashlee Parker and Ms. Bethany Tiernan, who are members of the University of Maryland Police Department's (UMPD) Information Analysis Unit with the Chief's award from PGPD's Chief Magaw. In special recognition of the invaluable assistance and commitment you displayed to the men and women of the Prince George's County Police Department. Your continued support demonstrates your dedication to public safety and the citizens we serve. Congratulations Ms. Parker and Ms. Tiernan! Picture above from left to right:

At approximately 8:49 a.m. this morning, the University of Maryland Police Department received a call regarding a possible explosion at Oakland Hall. The University of Maryland Police Department, University of Maryland Department of Environmental Safety and Prince George’s County Fire Department responded to the scene. Two University of Maryland Facilities Management employees were working on the roof of Oakland Hall when a small explosion occurred inside an HVAC boiler unit, due to a mechanical failure. This incident was an isolated event contained to the HVAC unit. The employees, who were performing a reset of the system with accordance to their procedures, suffered minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital for further evaluation. At this time, they have both been treated and released. Oakland Hall was scarcely occupied at the time, as most students have not returned to campus. Oakland Hall is currently open and there is no building damage as a result of the explosion. ###

On January 10th, 2014, the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) and Bowie State University Department of Public Safety (BSUDPS) welcomed new editions to their police force. Pvt’s. Heath Koops, Andrew Ross, and Joshua Feldman were sworn-in by Chief David B. Mitchell and PFC Charles Quigley of BSUDPS, was sworn-in by Chief Ernest Waiters in front of family, friends, and members of the University community at the Inn and Conference Center. Vice President of Administration and Finance, Carlo Colella, was the key note speaker for today’s event. The new officers endure six months of training at UMPD's Police Academy that not only included classroom education, but drill and ceremony, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, first responder, defensive tactics, and physical training. UMPD would like to congratulate these officers on their accomplishments and the best of luck on your future endeavors. ###

The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD), University of Maryland Campus Recreation Services, Department of Environmental Safety (DES), Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD), and Prince George's County Fire Department (PGFD) participated in a active shooter training exercise on January 10th, 2014, at the Eppley Recreation Center (ERC) at the University of Maryland. Due to the recent relevancy of active shooter incidents across the nation, the University of Maryland is taking a proactive approach to discuss, test, and evaluate its plans, resources, and coordination. The purpose of the training exercise is to provide participants an opportunity to demonstrate the response plans, policies, and procedure for responding to an active shooter at the University of Maryland.

On January 8th, 2014, members of the Criminal Investigations Unit and Strategic Enforcement Response Team of the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) arrested and charged 3 male individuals that robbed a male UMD student. On December 21st, 2013, at approximately 3:33 a.m., UMPD’S Security Operations Center notified UMPD officers of a fight that was occurring in lot 11b. Once on scene, officers stopped and identified 3 males, who denied any involvement in the incident. While on scene with the officers, the victim, a male UMD student, was adamant that nothing had occurred and was transported to a nearby area hospital for injuries that he sustained from the altercation. It was later determined by the victim that his property was taken during the altercation and the 3 male individuals that were stopped by police were identified as the assailants.

On January 4, 2014 at approximately 4:15 PM, the Prince Georges County Police were pursuing a vehicle which drove onto the UMD College Park campus. The vehicle crashed into wooden bollards near the Eppley Recreation Center at which time the driver of the pursued vehicle was apprehended by a PGPD officer. The other occupant of the vehicle fled on foot. Security Monitors working at the UMPD Security Operations Center tracked the fleeing person on camera and informed UMPD officers of the person's location. UMPD officers responded to the location provided by the SOC Security Monitor and apprehended the suspect, who was turned over to PGPD's custody. Due to the quick action by our SOC staff and responding officers, the fleeing suspect was quickly apprehended. Additional information, when available may be found at http://pgpolice.blogspot.com/.

Please visit http://www.umpd.umd.edu/crime_alert_offcampus_detail.cfm?id=730 for information regarding an off-campus burglary that occurred on 12/23/13. Prince George’s County Police Department is the primary reporting agency and is conducting the investigation. ###