To report all emergencies on campus,
dial 314-362-4357

Every member of the campus community is strongly encouraged to immediately report any criminal act or emergency on campus to the Protective Services Department. Protective Services has personnel ready to respond 24 hours a day to telephone calls or walk-in requests for security service.

A Response Officer will be directed to your location immediately. If required, an ambulance, city police or fire department may also be directed to the scene. For your safety and convenience, emergency telephones have been provided outside the entrances of major buildings on the Medical School campus. A two-way intercom system also has been provided at several card access entrances to campus buildings as part of the access control system. These intercoms may be used to speak directly to the on-duty Communications Officer. Intercoms are found at the entrances to the main buildings on the Medical School Campus. When the red button is pushed, the user may use the intercom to communicate directly with the Communications Officer. The caller’s location is indicated to the officer automatically. Additional Blue Light emergency stations with two way intercoms have been placed on WUSM Parking Lots and in WUSM garages as well as the BJCIH Plaza. You may use these emergency telephones or intercoms to contact the Communications Officer on-duty.

Crime Reports may be made anonymously by dialing the Campus Watch Line at 314-362-0381 to leave a recorded voice message.  You can also make a report through the silent witness program.

What happens when an offense is reported to Protective Services?

When a criminal offense is reported to Protective Services, a written offense/incident report is prepared and an investigation of the incident is initiated. Protective Services will assist the complainant in contacting the St. Louis Police Department if that action is indicated and/or the complainant wishes to do so.

Statistics about reported crime on campus are compiled by Protective Services and are classified according to guidelines set forth by the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Section. The statistics include information collected by Protective Services as well as any information provided to the campus officials listed in this paragraph. Professional, pastoral and professional counselors are encouraged to inform the persons they are counseling of the procedures for reporting crimes on a voluntary, confidential basis using the Campus Watch Line to report by phone for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. Other campus officials to whom crimes may be reported confidentially include:

  • Associate Dean For Student Affairs (MD-PhD Students) 314-362-6843
  • Director, Program in Physical Therapy (PT Students) 314- 286-1407
  • Director, Program in Occupational Therapy (OT Students) 314-286-1619
  • Associate Dean For Graduate Education (PhD and MD/PhD Students) 314-362-2558

Protective Services makes every reasonable effort to provide timely notice of serious crimes on campus so that appropriate actions may be taken to prevent similar crimes. Daily crime and incident summary reports, monthly crime summary reports and an annual report are prepared and distributed by Protective Services. Security alerts and bulletins are issued by the department to alert campus personnel as serious crimes are reported and there appears to be a risk of recurrence to other students or employees. A warning is required when any crime of murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary or motor vehicle theft occurs on campus and is reported to campus security or local police agencies and there is a threat of recurrence to other students or employees. This information is also used by Protective Services to develop programs for the protection of campus personnel, their property and that of the university. Additionally, Protective Services offers prevention programs and security locking devices for equipment and vehicles at university cost with free installation for campus personnel.

A Daily Crime Log is maintained on the Protective Services webpage to inform campus personnel of all crimes on campus which are reported to Protective Services either by individuals, or by the St. Louis Police Department. The Daily Crime log is normally updated within 48 hours from the time the crime is reported to Protective Services.

An Annual Crime Report is prepared by the Protective Services Department and is published electronically as part of the Protective Services webpage. The webpage contains the following information: Crime Awareness and Campus Security; Services Provided; Campus Watch Hotline; Daily Crime Log; Access Control and I. D. Badges; Campus Crime Statistics; Medical Emergencies; Sexual Assault; Drugs and Alcohol On Campus; Security Tips; If You Should Become A Victim; How To Describe A Criminal; Key Phone Numbers and E-Mail Addresses; Emergency Contact Points; Career Opportunities; Danforth Campus Police link; and U.S. Department of Education webpage link.

All or part of the data may be downloaded and printed. Hard copy printouts of selected information from the webpage or the entire document may be obtained by contacting Protective Services at 314-362-4357. Applicants for employment may request the aforementioned printout information from the Human Resources Department. Applicants may also make a request in person, by telephone or in writing to:

Protective Services Department
Washington University School of Medicine
MSC 8207-29-01
St. Louis, MO 63110

Campus Watch Hotline

If you observe a crime in progress or about to be committed on campus, please dial 314-362-4357 from any phone (campus or external) to reach Protective Services. Response personnel will be dispatched to your location immediately.

If you have knowledge of a crime that has already been committed on the School of Medicine Campus, please telephone the Campus Watch Line to make an anonymous oral report by dialing 314-362-0381.  You can also make a report through the silent witness program.

How to Describe a Criminal

Before providing a description of a suspect, as calmly as possible give your name, present location and a brief description of what happened, if anyone was injured and if medical assistance is required. Then, describe the suspect according to:

  • Name (if known)
  • Race
  • Sex
  • Age (Approximate)
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Hair (color and style)
  • Eyes (color)
  • Glasses (frame – wire, round, color, etc)
  • Beard or mustache
  • Unusual features
  • Visible marks or scars, tattoos, etc.
  • Clothing (visible garments – hat, coat, shirt, trousers, shoes, etc.)
  • Weapon (knife, pistol, shotgun, etc.)
  • Direction/manner of escape (foot or vehicle)
  • Vehicle description (make, model, color)
  • What was taken? (wallet, purse, computer)
  • Contact the local police if the incident occurs at home and Protective Services at 314-362-4357 if the incident occurs on campus. Remain on the phone while assistance is being dispatched.
If You Should Become the Victim

Following security and safety precautions and remaining alert will help to keep you safe. In contemporary society It is still possible that you may become the victim of a property crime or personal attack. Notify Protective Services at 314-362-4357 as soon as possible if on campus. If off campus, notify the local law enforcement agency by dialing the 911 Emergency Number.

How you react can affect whether or not you are physically harmed. At the moment of an attack, you will have to make snap decisions. Plan ahead now. Think now about how you might react under a variety of circumstances. Are you prepared to scream and yell? Will you use physical force? What might you use as a tool for defense? If you are faced by an armed assailant, the risk of injury may be minimized by cooperating with demands that are made.

Surrender your valuables as requested. Avoid sudden movements that might be perceived as threatening and give the criminal what he or she wants. Take a good look at your attacker and remember identifying characteristics so that you may provide an accurate description to authorities.

If you think your life is in immediate danger, use any defense you can (running, kicking, screaming). If a carjacking is involved, toss your keys one way and run in the opposite direction. If the attacker wants your car, he will go after the keys while you escape unharmed. Your objective is to get away. In a violent crime it is generally ineffective to cry or plead with an attacker. Such actions tend to reinforce the attacker’s feeling of power.

Intercoms & Phones – Emergency Contact Points

Direct intercoms and “Code Blue” emergency phones are located in WUSM parking facilities and main building entrances throughout the Medical School campus. These devices provide the user with direct line communication to the Protective Services dispatcher on a twenty-fours hours, seven day per week basis.

While walking the campus or using the parking facilities, please become familiar with the Emergency Contact Point locations.

Resources for Crime Victims

The University encourages crime victims to obtain counseling. Victims of all types of crimes may also obtain assistance from the following community resources, which are not affiliated with Washington University:

  • Crime Victim Center
    314-652-3623
    Offers a 7-day, 24-hour hotline for victims of all types of crime. Provides emotional first aid, information, and referral services.
  • Provident
    314-647-4357
    Offers a 7-day, 24-hour hotline, especially for suicide prevention.
  • Rape and Violence End Now (RAVEN)
    314-645-2075
    Individual and group therapy for men who abuse women, physically or emotionally.
  • Safe Connections
    314-531-2003
    Offers a 7-day, 24-hour crisis hotline for women who have experienced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Individual counseling and support groups also are offered.
  • YWCA Women’s Resource Center
    314-645-2075
    Offers crisis intervention at hospitals, free counseling, and therapy peer groups.