Reporting Procedures

Students, faculty, staff, community members, and guests are encouraged to report all crimes and public safety-related incidents to Public Safety in a timely manner to aid in providing accurate and timely warning notices to the community when appropriate, and to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics.

General Procedures for Reporting a Crime or Emergency

It is imperative that all crime and suspicious activity be reported to Public Safety accurately and promptly. By working together, the university community and Public Safety can reduce crime on campus. Members of the university community may report criminal activities or other emergencies in several different ways. While we encourage all campus community members to promptly report all crimes and other emergencies directly to Public Safety, we recognize that some may prefer to report to other individuals or university offices. A list of titles of each person or organization to whom students and employees should report criminal offenses described in the law for the purpose of making timely warning reports and the annual statistical disclosure is included in the “Getting Help” section.

All Public Safety incident reports involving student misconduct are forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct, Rights and Responsibilities for review and referral for potential action, as appropriate.

Those wishing to report and receive assistance for emergency situations may call (415) 422-2911. All other non-emergency situations may be reported at (415) 422-4201. In response to a call, Public Safety Dispatch will take the required action, either by sending an officer to the caller’s location or by taking a report by phone.

Reporting to the San Francisco Police Department

A person reporting a crime to Public Safety Dispatch and Patrol Services has the right to report the crime to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) by calling 911 or utilizing the San Francisco non-emergency call center at 311. Public Safety Officers regularly discuss this option with the victim of a crime and will assist the victim with that process. If SFPD is contacted about incidents involving USF students occurring off-campus, SFPD will typically notify Public Safety to respond with them.

To Report a Crime

In the event anyone has information regarding crimes or emergencies on the Hilltop Campus they should immediately call Public Safety by dialing:

Dialing from Off-Campus Phones:
Emergency: (415) 422-2911
Non-Emergency: (415) 422-4201

Dialing from On-Campus Phones
Emergency Extension: 2911
Non-Emergency Extension: 4201

For reporting a crime, see the “Police Department Information” section.

Confidential Reporting

If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the university system or the criminal justice system, you may want to consider making a confidential report. A Public Safety Officer can file a report on the details of the incident. The purpose of a confidential report is to maintain confidentiality, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the university can keep an accurate record of the number of incidents involving students, employees, and visitors; determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant; and alert the campus community to potential dangers. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crime statistics for the institution, and when they involve allegations of sexual harassment (including sexual violence) are made available to the university’s Title IX Coordinator. You can call Public Safety and ask that the information remain confidential.

Importance of Reporting

By reporting alleged crimes and other suspicious circumstances directly to Public Safety, the alleged crime or suspicious circumstance will be included in Public Safety’s Daily Crime and Fire Log, the daily report of crimes or suspicious incidents reported to Public Safety, and it will be included in the Annual Security Report (if appropriate). Additionally, Public Safety will be able to issue timely and appropriate warning bulletins alerting the campus community to the issue. Public Safety reports are confidential. When reporting a crime or suspicious circumstance, you need not state your name or the name of victims, witnesses, etc. USF encourages prompt and accurate reporting of all crimes to the Department of Public Safety and the appropriate police agencies, when the victim of a crime elects to, or is unable to, make such a report.

The institution will, upon written request, disclose to the alleged victim of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, the report on the results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the institution against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense. If the alleged victim is deceased as a result of such crime or offense, the next of kin of such victim shall be treated as the alleged victim for purposes of this paragraph.

To make a report to the university’s anonymous whistleblower hotline administered by a third party, call 800-316-4315.