Trio honored Feb. 24 for investigation of Zhang case
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones will honor three Division of Public Safety employees Feb. 24 with the Chancellor’s Medallion for their investigation of the June 2017 disappearance of visiting scholar Yingying Zhang.
U. of I. Police warn against phone, internet scams
URBANA, Ill. – U. of I. Police are reminding students and others to be on guard against potential scams at all times. Now that tax season is here, scams may pick up – especially scams targeting international students. The University of Illinois Police Department has not received any reports of unusual scam activity recently, and that is a trend that the department would like to see continue. A common scam involves an unknown caller who claims to be a representative of the U.S. government or IRS. These callers will claim that the person receiving the call owes money to the [...]
Plan aims to safeguard students, free speech
URBANA, Ill. — In an effort to be transparent about its plans and decision-making process during First Amendment gatherings, the University of Illinois Police Department is reminding campus community members about the Demonstration Response Plan which details exactly how university officials intend to safeguard students and their right to free expression. College campuses often serve as flashpoints for political disputes, which makes planning and transparency that much more important heading into a contentious election season. The pillars of the plan include clear communication, relationship building and a transparent decision-making process before and during an event, with campus safety and the protection of [...]
Public safety officials hope to avoid issues with marijuana in the new semester
URBANA, Ill. – As students return to campus for the first time in 2020, the University of Illinois Police Department is clearing the air about marijuana possession and use on school grounds. Although the state of Illinois has legalized recreational use of marijuana for individuals 21 and older, federal prohibitions on marijuana remain in effect for all colleges and universities which receive federal funds. That means all forms of marijuana remain illegal on campus property. Additionally, smoking marijuana on university property violates the Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Campus policy. “We do not want anyone to end up in trouble simply for [...]
UIPD chief accepts new position; interim chief to be appointed
URBANA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Police Department will undergo a transition in leadership over the next few months after Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Craig Stone announced Thursday that he has accepted a position and will be returning to Columbus, Ohio. Chief Stone has been at the helm of the University Police Department since June 2018. His last day will be Jan. 15. Deputy Chief Matt Myrick will be appointed as the interim executive director of public safety while campus leaders initiate a national search for a permanent department head. Myrick previously served as [...]