Police and Fire Departments

The UAF Police Department was founded in 1991 to meet the increasing needs of the university community. Since then it has become a progressive, proactive department striving toward active community involvement as well as the protection of persons and property on the UAF campus. In addition to patrol duties the department makes presentations on topics of importance to the community, supports an award winning K9 program, a bike patrol program and a college-oriented crime prevention program.

The department hires college students as part-time community service officers who assist with campus security and patrol issues. These student officers have gone on to work in police agencies around Alaska and the nation as a result of their experience with the UAF Police Department.

The University Emergency Communications Center is a regional 24-hour 911 communications center serving the UAF community as well as a portion of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. In addition to handling local calls, the center also receives 911 calls from communities along the Parks Highway from Fairbanks to Cantwell. The center employs full- and part-time career dispatchers and maintains a student dispatcher program. Dispatchers are trained in law enforcement, emergency medical service (EMS) and fire dispatching.

The University Fire Department provides fire, EMS and rescue services to the UAF campus and to the University Fire Service Area, which covers a five-mile radius around the campus. The department is nationally recognized and is staffed full time at two stations, one on campus and one in the fire service area. The department's fire prevention division works to ensure that all UAF facilities comply with code and fire safety standards.

The University Emergency Dispatch Center, a regional 24-hour 911-communication center located in the UAF public safety building, dispatches the Police Department and the Fire Department. Both departments provide exceptional employment and career opportunities for students who wish to make a difference as community service officers. These officers assist with campus security and serve as firefighter/EMTs and emergency communication dispatchers. Many UAF students have gone on to positions with agencies around Alaska and the nation as a result of their experience in public safety work at the university.

The emergency telephone for both police and fire is 911. For more information, telephone (907) 474-7721 or visit online at www.uaf.edu/police/ or www.uaf.edu/fire/.