The University of Texas at Austin Police Department (UTPD) has expanded its patrols in the West Campus neighborhood, an area where most UT undergraduate students live. This move is part of a broader effort to increase safety for students, employees, and visitors. The initiative builds on previous investments in the area and follows last year’s opening of a UTPD substation in West Campus.
Starting August 4, UTPD began implementing a new strategy by establishing a dedicated West Campus Patrol District. Officers from both UTPD and the Austin Police Department (APD) are now working together to boost law enforcement visibility and coverage in the neighborhood.
“The safety of West Campus remains a top priority for the Board of Regents,” said Board Chairman Kevin Eltife. “We’ve made real improvements over the past three years, but the work continues. We are especially grateful to the officers who will be in West Campus each day to protect the safety of our students.”
UT President Jim Davis highlighted that many students come from outside Travis County and that for many it is their first experience living in a large city. “The West Campus neighborhood is a cross section of Texas and the nation, with 90 percent of our students coming to UT from outside of Travis County,” Davis said. “It is the college home for a majority of our undergraduate students, and for many their first time in a big city environment. We deeply care about our students and their families’ positive experience and safety in the city of Austin. We are grateful for our Board of Regents’ significant and ongoing investment in safety, for the UT Police Department’s commitment to excellence, and for the Austin Police Department’s partnership in prioritizing the safety of our students and families near campus.”
About two dozen UTPD officers have been assigned to permanent shifts based out of 2400 Nueces St., patrolling on foot, bicycles, or motorized vehicles to improve accessibility. Regular patrols are intended not only as deterrence but also as an opportunity for officers to build relationships with local residents.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our students, families, employees and visitors,” said UT Police Chief Shane Streepy. “We established an intentional presence off campus in the West Campus neighborhood, and now we are growing that presence to enhance the safe experience for those who live, work and study near UT Austin. Our students will get to know our officers, and they will see us patrolling alongside Austin Police. I am grateful to President Davis for his commitment to safety beyond our campus borders, and to Austin Police Chief Davis for her partnership in keeping our community safe.”
The newly created district expands UTPD’s patrol boundaries westward from Rio Grande Street out to North Lamar Boulevard.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year allows cross-training between UTPD and APD officers who patrol West Campus so they can learn about policing both university settings and traditional urban areas.
“The Austin Police Department is excited to continue our partnership with The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, focusing on the West Campus Patrol District,” said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. “This collaboration will enhance both agencies’ access to facilities in a timely manner, allow us to assist each other with calls, and provide cross-training opportunities — all of which are critical during a crisis. Addressing crime and keeping our community safe is a joint effort, and we are proud to be a part of it.”
Over $13 million has been invested by UT System Board of Regents into improving security measures such as increased patrols, better lighting systems like HALO cameras [https://police.utexas.edu/campus-safety/halo-cameras], as well as launching programs including UT’s West Campus Ambassadors program—a team focused on maintaining cleanliness while supporting business leaders committed toward making neighborhoods safer.
UT offers several additional safety services: SURE Walk provides walks or rides between campus locations; Night Rides partners with Lyft offering rides home from various campuses; LiveSafe mobile app connects users directly with police dispatch via text message or allows them quick access during emergencies [https://police.utexas.edu/services/livesafe-app].
