The Vanderbilt Police Department (615-322-2745) comes under the charge of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for the Division of Administration. As one of Tennessee's larger law enforcement agencies, the Police Department provides comprehensive law enforcement and security services to all components of Vanderbilt University including the academic campus, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and a variety of University-owned facilities throughout the Davidson County area. Non-commissioned and commissioned officers staff the department. Commissioned officers are empowered to make arrests as "Special Police Officers," through the authority of the Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Vanderbilt officers with Special Police Commissions have the same authority as that of a municipal law enforcement officer, while on property owned by Vanderbilt, on adjacent public streets and sidewalks, and nearby neighborhoods. When a Vanderbilt student is involved in an off-campus offense, police officers may assist with the investigation in cooperation with local, state, or federal law enforcement. Metro Nashville police routinely work and communicate with campus officers on any serious incidents occurring on campus or in the immediate neighborhood and business areas surrounding campus. Vanderbilt University operates no off-campus housing or off-campus student organization facilities. However, many graduate students and some undergraduate students live in the neighborhoods surrounding Vanderbilt. While Metro Nashville police have primary jurisdiction in all areas off campus, Vanderbilt officers can and do respond to student-related incidents that occur in close proximity to campus. Vanderbilt officers have direct radio communications with the city police, fire department, and ambulance services to facilitate rapid response in any emergency situation.

The Police Department includes a staff of over 100 people, organized into two bureaus: operations and administrative services. All of Vanderbilt's commissioned officers have completed officer training at a state-certified police academy. Those officers hold Special Police commissions and are required to attend annual in-service, as well as on-the-job, training. The Department also employs non-academy trained officers for security-related functions. Employment opportunities are available.

The Police Department has developed programs and services to inform and protect the community.

Information on security alerts and a summary of crime statistics for the Vanderbilt campus are available from the Police Department, 2800 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, Tennessee 37212.

The Vanderbilt Police Department is an Institutional member of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators - IACLEA.

Security at Vanderbilt A yearly guide to provide you with information on security-related services offered by the University.