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About the Department

About TUPD | Station Locations | Training | Safety Escort Services | Supplemental Security Force | Honor Guard

The Tufts University Police Department is headquartered on the Medford/Somerville campus with stations on the Boston and Grafton campuses. The 58 member department is lead by the Director of Public & Environmental Safety.

Tufts Police officers are trained at state recognized law enforcement training academies and through ongoing in-service and specialized training programs. Many members of the police department have degrees in criminal justice and related fields.

Our university police and security personnel are carefully selected, well trained, and committed to working with you to provide for the safety and security of our community.

The Tufts University Police Department receives its authority from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All Tufts Police officers are considered special state police officers under provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 22C, Section 63.

Officers assigned to the Medford/ Somerville and Boston campuses may, at times, be designated as deputy sheriffs in Middlesex and Suffolk Counties, respectively. Officers assigned to the Grafton campus are also designated as special police officers in the towns of Westborough and Grafton.

Generally, Tufts Police officers are authorized to make arrests for criminal offenses in or upon lands or structures owned, used, or occupied by the university, or in places where university business is conducted. This authority extends beyond the confines of the various campuses as determined by the acquisition of local special police status or deputy sheriffs' authority or by previous court decisions.

The university police enjoy strong professional relationships with state and local law enforcement agencies. Cooperative programs and information exchanges are ongoing priorities. Through this reporting relationship, the Tufts Police relay information to the university community on crimes that may pose a threat to students or employees on any of the campuses.

Operational and technical support is mutually provided when necessary.