Patrol Division

The uniformed Patrol Division is the most highly visible component of the department. Working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Patrol Division represents the bulk of the department’s staffing. The objectives of the Patrol Division are to:

  • Execute the law enforcement responsibilities of the department through preventive patrol and active enforcement of criminal and traffic laws on campus;
  • Perform a variety of diverse services for the campus, including enforcement, general assistance, emergency assistance, public information and directions, alleviating public hazards;
  • Effectively patrol the campus;
  • Provide general law enforcement services and assistance to the Yale community.

The members of the Patrol Division work in partnership with the Yale and New Haven communities, the New Haven Police Department, and various law enforcement and social service agencies in providing their high-quality service.

The Patrol Division is led by the Captain John Healy. Healy is responsible for all uniformed functions of the department. The bicycle and motorcycle units, emergency services unit, scheduling, special events, payroll, workers’ compensation, and fleet management are all supportive functions under the Patrol Captain.

Shift Commanders are lieutenants assigned to each of the department’s primary patrol shifts who are responsible for the general supervision and command of all department personnel assigned to their shift. Shift Commanders report to the Captain of Patrol Operatoins.

Sergeants are assigned to each primary patrol shift as Patrol Supervisors. They are responsible for the general supervision and command of uniformed officers assigned to their respective shifts. They respond to incidents to supervise and guide the police officers under their command.

The responsibilities of the Patrol Division are allocated between two primary units. The Patrol Division is composed of uniformed police officers assigned to motor vehicle or foot patrol in designated areas (beats). The Patrol Division is responsible for the bulk of police services rendered by the department.

The Motorcycle, Segway, and Bicycle Units are composed of specially trained police officers assigned to motorcycle, Segway Personal Transporter, or bicycle patrol. Members of these units are highly visible on campus, supplementing the functions of the Patrol Unit. Motorcycles, Personal Transporters, and bicycles are especially advantageous in an urban campus environment because they provide greater versatility and mobility in general patrol and response to emergencies. The mission of these specialized units is to enhance the safety and security of the community by concentrating on areas of vulnerability and addressing “quality of life” issues. The Operations Captain also oversees the Emergency Services Unit.

Yale University Police Officers are selected and certified in accordance with the statutes of the State of Connecticut and the Standards enacted by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council.