Officers have concluded their search around the Chesapeake Building and continue to search the surrounding area for the suspect. Continue to shelter in place and avoid the area. Continue to follow public safety orders. Additional information will be provided when it becomes available.

PGPD and UMPD officers continue their search for a black male, with short bushy hair, wearing a hoodie, armed with a hand gun, who is wanted for robbery that occurred in the 8800 block of 36th ave. Last seen in the wooded area behind the Chesapeake Building. PGPD K9 and Helicopter are assisting with the search. Continue to shelter in place if in this area. Continue to avoid the area and follow all public safety orders. Additional information will be provided when it becomes available.

An off-campus incident has been reported near 8800 block of 36th place. Officers from PGPD and UMPD have responded and searching for suspects on campus near the Chesapeake building / Paint Branch Dr. Suspects not in custody. Be alert. Stay away from area. Shelter in place if in this area. Additional information will be provided when it becomes available.

Dear Campus Community,

With classes back in session, this is an ideal time to remind everyone of the safety resources that are available and to update you on how we are working to keep our campus safe.

We continue to see a decrease in crime on our campus, with crime rates falling almost 7 percent in 2017. Last year our officers responded to over 82,000 calls for service, which includes but is not limited to responding to calls, initiating traffic stops, conducting building checks across our campus community, responding to vehicle and building lockouts, investigating traffic accidents, and walking escorts. To see the crime trend for the past ten years and the decreasing trend of crime on our campus, please visit http://www.umpd.umd.edu/stats/ucr/ .

Last month, UMPD’s Criminal Investigation Unit charged a person in connection with two Ellicott Dining Hall hate bias related vandalism incidents. We take all incidents of hate bias very seriously, which is reflected in our effort to identity the person responsible. During the investigation, handwriting samples and photos of the graffiti were submitted for forensic analysis, and results of the forensic analysis led us to file charges against the person. To read the full announcement, please visit https://go.umd.edu/umpdpressrelease .

We encourage members of our UMD community to download the UMD Guardian Safety App if you have not already done so. This can serve as a virtual walking escort service, automatically contacting UMPD if you do not arrive at your expected destination. When you register for UMD Guardian as a member of the University of Maryland community, your Smart911 user profile is automatically created. Your profile is kept private and can only be displayed in the event that you make an emergency call or text a tip to UMPD. In the profile, you can provide descriptions and medical information that would help UMPD respond faster to your emergency.

As always, we ask that you register your cell phone with UMD Alerts by visiting https://www.alert.umd.edu/ . You will receive text messages from UMPD in the event of an active emergency.

UMPD is here as a resource for you in keeping our community safe. If you see something of concern, please contact us. Together, we can all keep our community safe.

David B. Mitchell

Chief of Police/ Director of Public Safety

University of Maryland Police Department