The Division of Public Safety encourages you to learn about all of the safety services available to you. Please take a moment to review the ten things you need to know, including free safety services that the Division of Public Safety offers the community.
Emergencies: Call (215) 573-3333 or dial 511 from any campus phone.
Please program this number into your cell phone speed dial as “Penn Pub Safety.” Use this number for all medical and emergency-related calls, including the reporting of suspicious behavior, or to reach Penn Police & Public Safety personnel.
General information: Call (215) 898-7297
Walking Escort Service: (215) 898-WALK (9255).
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, between 43rd & 30th Streets and Market Street to Baltimore Avenue. Escorts are also available from 10 a.m. until 3 a.m. between 50th & 30th Streets and Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue via the University’s partnership with the University District Ambassador Program.
Penn Transit Services: (215) 898-RIDE (7433)
Business Services’ Penn Ride Service: Monday-Sunday, 6 p.m.-3 a.m.; Limited on-call service, 3 a.m.-7 a.m. Visit www.upenn.edu/transportation.
The UPennAlert Emergency Notification System enables fast and efficient dissemination of critical information to members of the University community during a major emergency via text messaging, e-mail, digital displays and the Penn Siren Outdoor System (Penn SOS). If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes now to register or update your contact information. All information is secure and confidential.
If you observe a potential safety hazard, need a walking escort, or require Penn Police assistance, contact the Division of Public Safety from one of more than over 300 blue-light phones on campus and in the surrounding community. Just pick up the receiver or press the button.
This service allows PennComm, the DPS emergency communications center, to identify your GPS coordinates when you call from a cell phone that you have registered with Penn Guardian. Penn Guardian is available to you as a member of the Penn community. To activate this service, you must sign up and register your cell phone number. Once your cell phone number has been registered, a dispatcher will be able to view the profile information that you have entered when you call the DPS emergency number – 215-573-3333.
Penn Students and Faculty/Staff can register their bicycles, electronic equipment and other valuable property, online with the University of Pennsylvania Police Department. Students can also purchase a U-Lock through their SFS account.
Members of the Division of Public Safety will provide safety information including brochures, videos, and presentations upon request. To request materials or arrange for a presentation, please contact our Special Services Department at (215) 898-4481 or email sdever[at]publicsafety.upenn.edu.
Unattended theft is the number one crime here at Penn. The majority of all theft reported to the Penn Police occurs because items are left unattended or are improperly secured.
The Division of Public Safety asks that all members engage the idea that “Safety and Security is a Shared Responsibility.” Please remember to take your personal property with you at all times, don’t leave doors unlocked and report suspicious behavior.