Safety Resources – Winter Reminder
The Division of Public Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of the Penn and West Philadelphia communities which we serve. If you should have any concerns or see someone exhibiting suspicious behavior, call the PennComm Emergency Communications Center at 215-573-3333. We are here for you 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, call anytime.
Division of Public Safety Contact Information
Emergencies: 215-573-3333 or 511 (from any campus phone)
Walking Escort: 215-898-WALK (9255)
Penn Transit Ride Service: 215-898-RIDE (7433)
Special Services: 215-898-6600
General Information: 215-898-7297
We encourage you to use these free services provided for your safety and wellbeing
Uniformed Allied Universal Public Safety Officers provide walking escorts to all campus locations. Officers are dispatched by radio and will accompany you from one campus location to another, to your parked vehicle, to a Penn Transit Stop or to an on-campus SEPTA regional transit stop.
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, between 30th to 43rd Streets and Market Street to Baltimore Avenue.
Escorts also extends west to 50th Street, and north/south from Spring Garden to Woodland Avenue, between 10 a.m. and 12 a.m. via the University’s partnership with the University District Ambassador Program.
How to Request a Walking Escort:
- Ask any Public Safety Officer on patrol or inside a building
- Call 215-898-WALK(9255) or 511 (from campus phone)
- Use one of the many building and blue-light ephones located on and off Penn’s Campus.
Special walking escort program at Sansom Place West over winter break
We will have an Allied officer standing outside of Sansom Place West twice per day, at 11:30 am – 1:30 pm; and 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm; to offer walking escorts for students heading out for groceries or food in our Patrol Zone.
Special Property Checks
Under the special checks program, Penn Police officers check the exterior of registered properties for signs of security breaches at peak travel times during Thanksgiving, Spring and Winter Breaks.
WINTER BREAK: Special Checks will begin on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021, at 5pm through Tuesday, January 11th, 2022, at 3pm.
The program is available at no extra charge to residents in the Penn patrol zone, bounded by 30th Street west to 43rd Street and from Baltimore Avenue north to Market Street.
Students, faculty and staff who live in the patrol zone are encouraged to register their residence below. Be sure to list your contact information, other occupants, landlord if applicable, vacancy dates, scheduled repairs, and someone other than a landlord with access or a key to the property. Special checks cannot be provided for interior areas of apartment complexes.
Register for a special check: https://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/contact/propertycheck/
Remember to close and lock all doors and windows before you leave and arrange for packages to be delivered elsewhere while you are away. If you will not be home when a package arrives, remember to make arrangements for safe delivery. Make use of the Amazon@Penn location in 1920 Commons, the Residential Services Off-Campus package holding service (for students), check with your landlord to see if they offer package services, or use other package service locations.
The HELP Line: 215-898-HELP(4357)
Any member of the Penn community can utilize this service by calling 215-898-HELP(4357). Calls will be answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by Division of Public Safety professionals trained in mental health referrals by staff from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
Students who are dealing with the complex emotional challenges of university life can use the HELP Line to receive information and referrals to the many health and wellness resources at Penn, including CAPS, Student Health Service, Student Intervention Services, Public Safety, and others. They may also call on behalf of a friend or acquaintance.
Special Services Department: 215-898-4481 or 215-898-6600 (24hrs)
Members of the Penn community may inquire and receive support services when victimized by any type of crime. Highly trained personnel are available to offer immediate assistance, including crisis intervention, accompaniment to legal and medical proceedings, options counseling and advocacy, and linkages to other University and community resources.
Please take a moment to update your contact information for the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System and download the Penn Guardian App, which can help Police better find your location in an emergency.
- UPennAlert Registration
Visit www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/upennalert for information on how to register or update your contact information.
- Penn Guardian
Use the Penn Guardian App to stay in touch with Public Safety.
- Penn Guardian is a free app that allows Penn affiliates the ability to rapidly provide information about themselves to the Division of Public Safety during an emergency.
- Calls from a registered phone will allow Penn Police to determine caller’s cell phone’s GPS location, which can decrease response time. This information will only be available to Penn Police when they call the Penn Emergency Communications Center (PennComm) directly, either through the app or at 215-573-3333.
- If a call is made to PennComm, and the caller is unable to speak—perhaps because of an allergic reaction—a call taker will send a text message to the caller’s phone, allowing for communication directly via text.
- The app provides a confidential way to submit a tip to Penn Police—with a photo, if necessary—through a text message.
PennRides on Request: 215-898-RIDE (7433)
Penn Transit’s buses and shuttles help students travel between campus and the neighboring communities safely and efficiently. Penn Transit Services are free of charge to all Penn community members holding a valid PennCard. Penn Bus East and Penn Bus West operate fixed route services Monday through Friday from 5 p.m.–12 a.m. year-round except for holidays observed by the University. Penn Shuttles provide transportation to and from campus to any designated location in West Philadelphia, Center City, and Powelton Village within defined boundaries. Penn Shuttles operate from 6 p.m.–3 a.m., seven days a week, year-round, except for holidays observed by the University. With Penn Transit’s mobile app, PennRides, riders can request the University’s shuttle services from their mobile devices and get real time vehicle locations for both shuttles and fixed route buses.