WashU Medicine Guidance on Law Enforcement Activity
At Wash U Medicine, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for our faculty, staff, students, and patients. A strong community is built on trust, preparedness, and a shared understanding of navigating difficult situations.
We recognize that faculty, staff, and administrators may be concerned about responding if law enforcement enter our buildings, offices, or clinics or make contact seeking information about a patient, student, or employee. We must respond calmly and professionally and follow the law to ensure the safety, privacy, and well-being of all members of our WashU community.
In the case of any law enforcement activity, the highest level (present) administrator should immediately contact WashU Risk Management, who will coordinate with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) to determine the appropriate next steps.
Risk Management Contact Information: riskmgmt@wustl.eduor (314) 362-6956
Emergency after hours cell: 636-222-0002
In addition, we ask that you request on-site Security and Public Safety presence (Protective Services) by calling 314-362-4357. Protective Services will provide assistance to help ensure calm and maintain privacy of the area where discussions are taking place.
More Detail on if Law Enforcement Arrives at a WashU Medicine Location
The highest-ranking on-site leader should manage the situation if law enforcement arrives at Wash U Medicine for any law enforcement activity. This leader should:
1. Remain calm and professional to ensure a respectful and measured interaction.
2. Move the conversation to a private spaceaway from patients, labs, visitors, and public areas.
3. Request identification by asking for the officer’s name, badge number, agency affiliation, and business card.
4. Politely but firmly state that you are not authorized to provide information or grant access to non-public areas. Tell them you will consult university legal counsel to determine the appropriate response.
5. If the officer presents a warrant or legal document, inform them that WashU’s attorneys must review it before taking action. Request that they wait while legal counsel is consulted.
6. Do not disclose any information about faculty, students, trainees, staff, or patients until the Office of General Counsel (OGC) has given explicit authorization.
7. Request that the law enforcement officer wait until they receive a response from the OGC.
8. Reiterate that per WashU policy, recording devices are prohibited in patient care areas and that protecting patient privacy remains a priority.