For the third year in a row, the University of Maryland police department won the Maryland Law Enforcement Challenge (LEC) in the University Law Enforcement division. This award is given to departments across the nation for their dedication towards increasing safety through traffic enforcement. The LEC program is evaluated through traffic enforcement programs such as Click It or Ticket, Smooth Operator, and Checkpoint Strikeforce. The purposes of these initiatives are to increase traffic safety through educational and enforcement means and to deter negligent or aggressive behavior that could lead to a potentially dangerous traffic accident. Although UMPD participates fully in these initiatives, we strive for exemplary traffic enforcement day to day and make traffic safety a daily priority.

On May 16th, the University of Maryland Police Department was awarded the Outstanding Non-Instructional Unit Award from the President's Commission on Ethnic Minority Issues. This award is issued to a unit that makes outstanding contributions the the University's equity efforts. UMPD has always been dedicated to the recruitment and promotion of its quality minority employees. Additionally, the department makes it a top priority to address diversity issues with all officers in the academy and with continued training throughout their career. UMPD regards diversity as a critical issue and will continue to address it with the same fervor for many years to come.

On 04/24/2013, the University of Maryland Honor Guard joined other departments in Boston, MA for a memorial service held in honor of Officer Sean Collier. Officer Collier, an officer with the MIT campus, was slain during the manhunt for the Boston Marathon Bombers. At the time of his death, Officer Collier was 27 years old and had worked for the department for 15 months. UMPD sends it's condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Officer Collier and his department.

University of Maryland Police Detective MPO Chris Iversen was recognized as investigator of the year at today's Police Chief's of Prince George's county award ceremony in Glenarden. Detective Iversen is a 4 year veteran of this University and a graduate of this University. Detective Iversen has been involved in a large amount of high profile cases, including spearheading the Alexander Song case in which Song threatened widespread violence on the campus. Also honored today was Howard "Spud" Blake, UMPD's chief of staff. He was given the Hall of Fame award due to his many years of dedication to law enforcement. He was appointed as UMPD's chief of staff in 2010 and prior to that he attained the rank of Deputy Chief with the Prince George's County Police Department. Among his many accomplishments, he led the PGPD narcotics unit where they shut down 21 PCP labs.

The University of Maryland, M-NCPPC Parks & Recreation and the City of College Park invite you to participate on the 2nd Annual Good Neighbor Day. This event will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the College Park Community Center from 9am to 1:30pm. Good Neighbor Day is an annual volunteer service day, which renews the University’s commitment to being a good neighbor in the City of College Park. Volunteers are needed for a variety of projects, including:

On 03/13/2013, Chief David Mitchell honored both civilian and sworn employess in the 2013 Award and Promotion ceremony. Over 200 employees were recognized for their promotions and for their exemplary dedication to their jobs. Awards were handed out for many things such as the quick action taken by numerous members of this department in the Alexander Song case to the life saving actions taken by officers save the life of individuals who were invovled in a near fatal accident. While there is no way to properly reward the many employees of this UMPD for all that they do for the College Park community and for their dedication to the safety and security of all of it's residents, this award / promotion ceremony was an opportunity to show those employees that they are appreciated for the hard work they do.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over The University of Maryland Police Department will be conducting DUI Saturation patrols on Friday March 15th, 2013 and Saturday March 16, 2013. The purpose of the saturation patrols is to detect and arrest people driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, and/or driving while impaired by drugs. The University of Maryland Police, along with police agencies throughout Maryland, remind you ... DO NOT drink and drive. DO have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day and Spring Break!

Professor Tom Mauriello and representatives from the University of Maryland Police Department will be holding a presentation to discuss gun violence andto provide information on gun safety and awareness. This will be located at 1400 Marie Mount Hall on tonight (3/14) at 7:00 P.M. and will last until 9:00 P.M. This event will also be broadcasted on Professor Mauriello's webcast show "forensicweek.com" live. This event will also be found on the YouTube channel of the same name after the event.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Baltimore-Washington area—meaning there is a potential for significant snow, sleet, or ice accumulation--in effect from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening, with the possibility of snow accumulations of more than five inches and a potential for significant snowfall within the watch area. Officials forecast precipitation mixing with and changing to snow Tuesday night and continuing into Wednesday evening with temperatures in the lower and mid-30s and winds 10 to 20 MPH with gusts up to 30 MPH. Uncertainty remains with the track of the low pressure front and location of the rain-snow line which ultimately will determine snowfall totals. Potential impacts include difficult driving conditions, heavy, wet snow, and gusty winds leading to power outages.

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